Standing Strong In An Ever-Changing World

Standing Strong in an Ever-Changing World

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 5:20-21 & Hebrews 12:12-15

Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on November 25, 2018

Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson

Illustration—

A young woman graduated college with a degree in Education. She got her first job as a first grade teacher. On her first day teaching, she wanted to explain to the class that she was a liberal atheist and convince her young students that being a liberal and an atheist was the right way to be. She stood before her new class and stated, “I’m a liberal, lesbian atheist. Who wants to be just like their teacher when they grow up?”

Not really knowing what those terms were, but wanting to be just like their teacher, little hands began to go up all around the class; all hands except one. A little girl named Gracie chose not to raise her hand and go along with the crowd. The teacher asked Gracie why she had decided to be different from the rest of her class.

"Because I'm not a liberal, lesbian or atheist,” replied Gracie.

"Then," asks the teacher, "What are you?"

"I'm a Christian,” was Gracie’s reply.

The teacher is a little upset now and her face had turned slightly red. She asks Gracie why she was a Christian.

Gracie replied, “Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My mom and dad read their Bible to me every night before bed and before I say my prayers. My mom is a Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian."

The teacher is now angry. “That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your mom was a moron, and you dad was a moron. What would that make you?"

Gracie paused, then smiled and said, “Then, I’d be a liberal, lesbian atheist!"

Transition—

Even though this was a fictional story, the moral of the story should ring home with our culture today. We are living in a generation that is tolerate of everything. If you want to be a homosexual; then more power to you. You want to be a raging liberal; then go ahead and express yourself. We live in a society that condones bad lifestyle choices, but is critical of anyone who disagrees with the norm of society. It is perfectly fine to mock Christian teachings, but don’t insult the Islamic teachings. It is okay to condemn the people who truly love our Country, but praise and call those heroes who take a knee at football games and burn our American flag. We are living in a generation full of people who are selfish, undisciplined, easy offended, immoral, and happily call good evil and evil good.

This morning if you’ll take your copy of God’s Holy Word and open them up with me to two different passages of Scripture. The first passage can be found in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 5, and the other passage can be found in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 12. As you’re finding our passages today, please join me in prayer.

Nearly 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed this warning…

Isaiah 5:20-21—

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,

And prudent in their own sight!”

There is a special word in that text that is repeated twice. Actually, in Isaiah’s full writing on this subject (verses 8 through 30) this word is used seven times total. That word is “WOE.”

The Gospel of Luke records Christ speaking “WOES” no fewer than thirteen times. The Gospel of Matthew records Christ speaking “WOES” at least twelve times. The “WOES” are found throughout the Book of Revelation, especially from chapters 8 through 12. This word is so important, because it is not an expression or a feeling. Woe is used to signify impending judgment, condemnation, and the approaching wrath of the Almighty God.

My friends, now look to whom the judgment, condemnation and wrath are coming for. First Thessalonians 5:9-10 proclaims that “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). While it is true that God did not destine us from wrath, we choose it because our actions. From this Scripture, the LORD tells us to whom that wrath is coming.

1. First, judgment is coming for those who call evil good and good evil.

a. Do we not live in that current society today?

b. It has been said, “A wrong deed is right if the majority of the people declare it not to be wrong.”