Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 4

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 4

In December of 2007, I purchased my first lap top computer. I must confess that I do not know much about computers. Over the years, I have learned to do quite a few things with a computer, but I know next to nothing about how they work. Consequently, I had to rely on the knowledge and expertise of a young sales associate at Best Buy to help me select a lap top. Once I had made the decision, the conversation turned to security measures.

These security measures added considerable cost to my purchase, and I naively asked about their necessity. I don’t remember her exact words, but the young lady said something like this: “There’s a whole bunch of bad stuff out there, and if it gets into your system, it will corrupt it – sometimes beyond repair.” I paid the extra cost for security measures which seem to do two things – 1) block bad things from getting in, and 2) sweep out bad things which do get in. Now, when I turn on my computer, I receive two messages. One message reads “Your last sweep was 2 days ago. No problems were found”. This is good news because this means that the security program has swept over my computer’s operating system, and did not find anything there that shouldn’t be there. The other message reads something like “You are now protected against 251,826 viruses.” This is also good news because it means that this program is continually identifying new viruses and defending my computer against them. This is also somewhat amazing to me that the number of corrupting viruses keeps increasing so consistently.

What does this have to do with our conversation this week?

We were looking again at the instruction provided by scripture:

Heb 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

We began to examine Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse, part of which reads: First, we are to “lay aside every weight.” This refers to “all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. It was at this point I asked you to turn to I John 2:15.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What does God’s word mean when making reference to the “world”? In this context, it means the realm of sin which is controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness. (NIV Study Bible).

The realm of sin…
Controlled by Satan…
Organized against God…

What an interesting perspective on the world we live in.!
“Realm” can be defined as “the special province or field of something or someone”. The “something” is sin. The “someone” is Satan. This world, which we are specifically instructed to not love, is the province of sin under the control of Satan. Note that it is “organized against God and righteousness.”

Organized…

I suppose I never really thought much about this before. “Organized” carries a sense of pulling parts together to comprise a whole for some unified action. It also means “to systematize.” As we consider the Cosmic Battle raging in our culture, I can’t help but marvel at how Satan has pulled parts together for what has become a unified action against God and righteousness.

One of the first laws of our land included these words: “Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia…” (Mayflower Compact, November 1620).

For the glory of God…
For the advancement of the Christian Faith…

How did this nation get from “there” (1620) to “here” (2009), where we now seem to exist not for the glory of god, but for the glory of man, and where it is no longer about the advancement of the Christian Faith, but the abolishment of the Christian Faith?

Satan is a great organizer. He has pulled together parts to create a whole unified in its action against God. Consider these “hot zones” in the Cosmic Battle:

Science (Evolution) – There is no God. Everything is the result of random chance. Since there is no God, there is no absolute truth. I am free to define “right” and “wrong” as I choose.
History – References to God and the faith of our founding fathers has gradually been removed from our history books, creating the impression that this nation was always a secular nation.
Social Order & Design – “Family” is no longer Husband-Wife-Children (God’s design). According to some in our culture, two men should have the right to marry – and adopt a child. To question this is considered evidence that you are intolerant or discriminatory.
The State – Government is no longer simply in the business of punishing evil and commending good. It seems that often the intent is to punish good and commend evil! We often find our government involved in areas which are more appropriately the province of the church or the family.

Are you getting the picture? Satan is at work in these parts of our culture – and this is not a complete list. Do you see the unified action against God and righteousness? We need to recognize that he is not only a good organizer, he is also very systematic.


Systematic…

When we examine cultural change, what we typically see is relatively slow, systematic, and incremental change.

Our enemy is pretty smart, and recognizes that sudden drastic changes raise the proverbial “red flags”. On the other hand, he sees ample evidence that incremental, systematic change can and will be accepted. This reminds me of the “Boiling a Frog” fable.

Now, I have no idea why anyone would want to boil a frog, but they say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger. But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes. Although this legend is untrue, it is a good illustration of what happens in our culture.

Pick almost any cultural issue and examine it and what will most often be found is a series of incremental changes in how that issue is perceived. Evolution, pre-marital sex, casual sex, divorce, abortion, pornography, evolution, the government’s role, homosexuality… Our culture views all of these issues quite differently than it did 50 years ago, and in each case, the change in perspective was gradual. And it seems that once an incremental change becomes accepted by the culture, the next “logical” step is introduced. Consider this example:

Same-Sex 'Marriage' Being Used to Defend Polygamy in Canada.
A defense lawyer in Canada is using the country's same-sex 'marriage' law to defend his clients' polygamy. "If (homosexuals) can marry, what is the reason that public policy says one person can't marry more than one person?" said the defense lawyer. Canada's Parliament extended full marriage rights to same-sex couples in 2005. Allowing homosexual couples to marry opens the door for polygamy, polyamory and other relationships. Once the definition of marriage has been changed once, why stop there? (This is yet another reason why states like Pennsylvania need to give constitutional protection to marriage between husband and wife.)

We would do well to remember that we live in a world controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness.

Aren’t you wondering what this has to do with me and my lap top computer? Allow me to shed some light on that…

The reason I spent the extra money on security measures (not just at the time of purchase, but also a year later when the programs had to be renewed) was because I became aware of the danger. Had the young lady at Best Buy not warned me, I could have taken my new lap top home and started working away, blissfully unaware that some things were beginning to happen in the unseen world of my computer’s operating system. Inevitably, my computer would have been slowly, incrementally corrupted by one or more of the 251,826 viruses. Then, one day in the midst of a Truth Process power point presentation – BAM! The frog has been boiled, the screen goes dark, and I’m wondering “what happened?”
Do you see application to our lives in this world?

There are times when I am far too “relaxed” living in this world. The reality is that if I really believed that this world is the realm of sin, controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness, I would be more vigilant about the corrupting influences of the false truth claims of the culture. I would be more vigilant because I would be aware of the danger. All too often, my computer is better protected than my heart and mind. Perhaps this is true of you as well.

If I am to run the race I am called to run, in the manner in which I am called to run it, then I must maintain a high level of vigilance. I need to be very careful about what goes into my mind and heart, and I must also examine my life on a regular basis, looking for the evidence that the things of this world have crept in. The only way I know to do this is to read and study God’s word and to spend time in prayer and self examination.

If I know God’s word, then I can identify the messages of the culture which are inconsistent with His word, and a “corrupting virus” is blocked.

If I take I take the time to examine my life – my thoughts, my words, my actions – the Spirit will guide me in uncovering the things that are “in there” that shouldn’t be.

Sometime after 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security instituted an advisory system to communicate to the public the current “threat level”. The highest threat level is RED (Severe), then ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN.

The threat level is always RED for the believer.

In His service –

John

Soli Deo Gloria