"Out of Sorts"

"We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us."  (Psalms 79:4) Romans 8 is my favorite chapter in that Book. But, it just so happens, the whole Book of Romans is a masterpiece on the "Normal Christian Life." But you knew that already, so I won't go into that. Jerusalem was to be like the shinning city on the hill, much like you and I. It was to be the place where all the world would look to see God's prize, His pride and joy, the people 'governed by God.' Instead, it came to be the place where the world turned and shook it's head, saying, "How are these God's people?" Obviously nothing happens over night; it takes time for an entire nation to be turned away from God. But it usually happens faster when the leadership are the ones that are causing the turning; one leader in particular, Satan. Jesus called the religious leaders out for what they were, they were children of the devil. He called them that because they wanted to kill Him, because they hated Him. Imagine what it takes for a person who studies God's law and writings of the prophets, to be turned into someone that would murder a righteous man. I'm sorry, but there is no other explaination other than they are children of the devil. Looking at this nation I live in, we started turning away back in the 60's; not necessarily the people, because during the 70's we had a huge 'Come to Jesus' movement; but the government and the powers to be began aggressively turning the people as a whole. There were three major turning points that I can remember, abortion became legal, prayer was banded from school, and we were officially ancestors of monkey's. I know there were more things than that, but those were the three I remember happening during my childhood. It's hard to point to one of those as being worse than the others, but if I had to pick one, I would have to pick the monkey idea as the most damaging one of all...
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities -his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshipping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshipped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." (Romans 1:20-25) NLT