|
What is wrong with America? Astute people are asking
this question often
in this generation. The nation of America is reeling down a rendezvous
that resembles the Roman
Empire that collapsed to paganism. Today
American courts rule against life and not for it. And if that were not
asinine
enough, some of these various courts flirt with international law
as if the laws of the United Nations, Canada, and other
nations dictate
to America what is the truth of the land. Today parents abdicate their
responsibility to discipline
children in the grace and truth of the Lord
under the guise of pluralism, diversity, and self-esteem enhancement.
Today
in America legislators debate what is the meaning of marriage, as
if common sense, reason, and natural science can’t
point this out! Worst
of all, today in America it looks as if the majority of Christians are
illiterate in their biblical
knowledge. This last point, biblical
illiteracy, stands as a paralyzing epidemic that may very well lead to
America’s
demise. Biblical illiteracy, doctrinal illiteracy, theological
incompetence, or simply stated, ignorance of God’s
truth from his word
saps the confidence, courage, and conviction from the soul of America.
The soul and spirit of America
developed from men who knew the truth of
God’s word in all areas of life. They were like Daniel, who would not
compromise
under pressure to an evil king. There would be no America
today had not some brave men and women learned and lived to love
knowledge
and truth. They had the spirit of Daniel, a spirit of learning
and living in the truth for God.
So what is
the cure of this epidemic? American Christians must immerse
themselves again in biblical doctrine. The love for truth and
knowledge
must arise from the church with a clarion call for all people to commit
to knowing what does God say and teach
in all areas of life. Christians
must immerse themselves in Scripture, not tabloids like “Star,”
Christians
must memorize truth, not magazines like “Time,” Christians
must study systematically God, not “Glamour”
with all its illicit sexual
innuendos, and Christians must saturate their minds with Scripture, not
with Sports Illustrated!
Sadly more Christians will read such material
as this and yet they spend little time in digesting the meaty portions of
God’s
word. Until Christians fall in love again with learning truth, we
will not produce men and women who like Daniel were wise
and
knowledgeable in the work of God for the nation and beyond. The Bible
tells us that the king desired knowledgeable
men. He requested that the
servants find men who were “well versed in every branch of learning,”
those who
were “gifted with knowledge and good sense” (Daniel 1:4). Then
when Daniel was chosen he refused to defile
himself with the delicacies
and ideologies of the King. Instead of eating the elaborate food of the
king, Daniel chose
to eat only vegetables and drink water (Dan. 1:8-16).
God honored Daniel and we discover that God gave him “an unusual
aptitude
for learning the literature and science of his time” (Dan. 1:17). Brain
power with the strength of bricks
in courage and conviction, how can you
beat that?
Life Application
What are you learning new in order to use for
the glory of God in
society? How well versed are you in doctrine, church history, and other
common disciplines of life.
Can you improve in your knowledge base in
your professional areas? Are you representing courage, conviction, and
confidence
in truth? Ask God in prayer to empower you in truth.
Keith Sherlin
B.A. North Greenville College
M.T.S.
Tyndale Theological Seminary
D.A. Cand. Trinity Theological Seminary
Director: Essential Christianity Ministries,
www.essentialchristianity.com (864-978-6401)
© Copyright 2004 by Keith Sherlin. These devotions
may be used without
charge in the exact form as above for the edification of the saints.
|
