We live in troubled times, and too many are afraid, disillusioned, depressed, and generally overwhelmed by what they are seeing and hearing. Our eyes look upon the unimaginable and our ears the receptacle for vile obscenities. You know the people who do these things. You have seen their deeds or the results of their acts in your community and worldwide. We see peaceful protests resulting in numerous arrests and police officers shot. We see a 24-year old stabbed and killed in a Manhattan street fight. We see an East St. Louis woman facing charges of sex trafficking of a child and second-degree murder. I don't have to pass judgment on any of these people or their crimes. God has already made the judgment! His Word says: "They are evil, wicked, and greedy, as well as mean in every possible Way. They want what others have, and they murder, argue, cheat, and are hard to get along with (Romans 1:29, CEV).
They have abandoned the Way and the Truth. Furthermore, they are following the course of the world and the voices that teach disobedience. What shall I say then? I tell you this anger, hostility, jealousy, strife, selfish ambition, and lousy behavior manifesting itself throughout our world; it is not part of God's plan. We all need to find and embrace God's Truth because it is written: "Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things" (James 3:16, CEV). Please do not join them in their evil plans, for they are still worldly and following their ungodly desires.
According to what we have read, we appear to be on the path to destruction. Those who speak otherwise may be watering down the Truth for themselves or their followers. They may also be speaking from a reprobate mind and are willing to lead souls away from the Truth. "Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done" (Romans 1:28, NLT). However, no matter what their mission is, we each have control over our spirit, and we can choose to work with God or play with Satan.
Hear me when I tell you about the omnipotent and omnipresent God that we serve. God does not want His people sowing discord. God does not want His people angry and growing more bitter with each passing day. God does not want his people to slander others and practices deceit. God does not want His people puffed up, taking pride in one man at the expense of another. God's Truth says: "Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way" (1 Corinthians 14:40, GNT). Decent and in order, that's the testimony from the Apostle Paul!
Too many people are ignoring the Word of God and casting doubt on the existence of the Holy Spirit. We understand because we all have doubts at one time or another. So, what do we do when we have doubts? We do not sit in a corner and hope the Truth will stop by. We search it out. We ask someone with knowledge of the Truth. Thomas did not understand how he could find the Way; so, he went to the source and asked, and "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth…" (John (14:6, NIV).
