Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PROGRESS or PROPHECY? One

 

PROGRESS or PROPHECY? ONE

In Matthew, it is said that Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and:

…showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give to You 

if You will fall down and worship me.”

(Matthew 4:8-9)

Now Jesus did not accept Satan’s offer in the dessert, but overall, have we? It seems that we have embraced more of what Timothy states when he writes:

…in the last days perilous times will come: 

For men will be lovers of themselves, 

lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, 

disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, 

unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, 

despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, 

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…

(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

In many ways, it does seem that man has won control of the world but has lost control of himself. Take heed of some of the following observations that have been made.

Over the past while, we have been able to build taller and taller buildings
but have also developed shorter and shorter tempers.

We have created wider and easier to use freeways, but at the same time seem
to have accepted narrower and more rigid viewpoints.

As a society, we tend to spend more, but actually have less and although we do buy
more we seem to enjoy all of it less

Part of what we spend more on is in the building of bigger and more expansive houses
even though we have smaller and smaller families.

And in those houses, we place more and more conveniences, but more than ever
seem to have less and less time.

Our education provides us with more advanced knowledge and degrees
but we seem at the same time, to have less common sense than ever.
And although more knowledge, less and poorer judgement.

We have more experts on more subjects, but more problems then previous and in the
same vein, more and better medicine, but ever less wellness. 

We often spend too recklessly, 

laugh too little, drive too fast, anger too easily, 

stay up too late, get too tired, 

read too little, watch TV too much, 

pray too little, talk too much, 

love too seldom, and lie too often. 

We have multiplied our possessions

 but reduced our values,

 we have learned how to make a living 

but not a life. 

We have added years to life 

but not life to years.*

In essence, we have received the world’s kingdoms by bowing to Satan rather than following Christ and as a result have, in large part, proven the words of Timothy to be true.

There’s even more than this but that’s enough for now to think about. 

* Adapted from an unknown writer as reported in Dr. Jeremiah’s Bible Study on Romans