We are living in a time where people have lost the fear of God and respect for their neighbor.
Truly, these are troublesome times, because every day people tolerate more evil and do not respect the lives of others.
Watch out for yourself, because cameras do not stop thieves or criminals from committing their wicked acts.
Immorality is practiced in plain sight of everyone.
In the past, adultery was hidden; now, adultery has become a show.
In the past, you smelled the odor of drugs (marijuana); now, marijuana is smoked publicly.
An addict has lost the shame of using drugs where people can see them.
People have no shame in stealing; they walk into a supermarket with the plan to pick up items, fill bags, or hide them under their clothes and walk out without paying.
Some people believe that wherever they go, they can use dirty language without restraint.
Pride causes people to lack respect, and they want to remain in darkness because of the hardness of their hearts.
When violence occurs, people stand around recording, yet they still do not call the police.
Let us not doubt that we will reach a time when people will sell information to the police, as happens in larger countries.
All of this happens because people have become comfortable with sin and immorality, and we live in a time where the law tolerates and approves evil and immorality.
A time where the person doing wrong in the eyes of God wants to be respected and does not want to be corrected; that is how deeply the devil’s deception has penetrated people’s minds.
In the book of Isaiah 5:20, the word of God says: “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!”
Ephesians 5:11 says: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
If your child does wrong, do not hide it; if your wife or husband does wrong, do not cover up anything either, but expose the evil. You cannot live comfortably where you know evil is taking place.
Because when people consciously do evil, it means a dirty conscience, hardness of heart, lack of fear of God, and lack of respect for people.
It is impossible to raise a child in a home where there is no order, no respect, no correction, and no discipline; then we see that the parent is irresponsible, and instead of raising the child with respect, they themselves cause them to stumble.
Romans 12:9 says: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
You who love the Lord, hate evil; He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 97:10).
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13).
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
The word of God is strong, firm, and true, and often people do not want to hear the truth. But it is good for everyone to read 1 Peter 3:10 and know how to recognize the children of God and the children of the devil.
Pastor Marcel Balootje.