The above named topic was sent to me with the request that I write on it in this issue of Beacon Lights. This I am pleased to do. However as we turn our attention to this topic, we find ourselves immediately faced with a question. To this question we now turn. The question is this: “Are we living in a changing world?”
As we consider this question in light of our changeless purpose, I would propose in many ways we do not live in a changing world. Solomon under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us there is no new thing under the sun. We read this literally in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” In a very real sense this is true.
As we are attentive to our changeless purpose, as God’s people, we find this truth brought near to us. For, covenant young people, the purpose that motivates the child of God is and always has been to glorify God in every sphere of life. To serve God in love and to stand opposed to all evil is our calling. In a very practical way this means that we maintain the Christ of the Scriptures as our Lord and Savior. By this, I mean that we hold fast to the confession to the Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Who saves us by grace alone.
Thus John emphasizes to the church in his epistles the importance of the confession that Jesus is the Christ. An example is clearly stated in John’s second epistle verses seven and nine: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” The necessity of expressly maintaining the doctrine of Christ has always been necessary in the church; and one of the reasons that this is necessary is because the world always attempts to take this confession away. They would always take the glory from God to themselves. For this reason did we find in the Old Dispensation, the world attempting to lead Israel astray with Baal and other man-glorifying gods. This was the attempt in the apostles’ day as is clear from the writings of John. Also, this was true when Pelagius opposed Augustine, and Arminius the reformed faith.
This same denial of the doctrine of Christ is seen today in the universal attempt to proclaim a Christ that is dependent upon man’s will. A main reason that this does not change is found in the fact that the father of this world and antichrist is the artist of deception, attempting to take the glory of God to himself. So we read in John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Again I would emphasize that this same opposition to the truth overwhelms the church world, even the “Reformed” community. Hence in a very significant sense the world changes not.
However, the topic of the article is significant when we consider the world with respect to the times. We live in the last days! The world in ever increasing and refined ways promotes its denial of Christ and its embracing of man’s christ-antichrist! The day of great apostasy is upon us. With the result that almost all embrace the false christs of man along with their false doctrine, worldly immorality, and a philosophy of the dark one. As a result of the intensity of the world in its service of sin, we live in a rapidly changing world. In each sphere of life the world rushes headlong down the road of filling its cup of iniquity. To prove the above I have not the space in this article, yet covenant youth, with a discerning eye and a study of God’s Word you may accomplish this.
In light of the above, you may understand that our purpose remains the same, yet requires an increasing steadfastness of faith. We must strive to glorify God in every sphere of our life. We must serve Him in love and stand opposed to all evil. We must trust in God’s Christ who saves us from beginning to end! This means that in an age when the Scriptures are denied and changed, we as God’s people know and confess them! Only if one knows the Word of God will he be able to discern the deceitfulness of the many winds of doctrine which seek to destroy. Above all we must embrace the pure preaching of the Word and maintain its purity. This is not popular today. The church world needs all kinds of frills. New translations of God’s Word, that are misleading to say the least; new emotionalism in the form of conversion experiences; and the speaking of tongues take the place of the preaching. But young people to stand as true Christians we need Christ and Him crucified preached. Only if we abide in the way of the purity of Scripture shall we stand against the antichristian forces. This may not sound so glamorous or exciting for the flesh. But he that makes his purpose in life the undefiled serving of God shall stand for eternity!
Our purpose beloved is to stand antithetically in the midst of a world of perversity, never compromising, seeking the kingdom of righteousness. And it shall soon be ours in perfection! Young people, this purpose of life must receive our daily attention. This means you won’t be one of the crowd, you will be a non-conformist; you won’t be popular, you will be the enemy soon. You won’t be damned, you will receive everlasting life!