[413 words]
Why will a man throw away the wife of his youth and the children she bore him, all for a “one night stand?” Adults use profanity in public and in front of children. Society is plagued by constant news reports of murder, abuse, rape and theft. Even in a small community, the gossip stays hot on social media. In America, we behave badly.
One reason we behave badly is because we live for ourselves and we live for the moment. When God is taken out of life’s equation, so is any motivation to live for eternity. Paul alludes to this way of life when he says, “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” (1 Corinthians 15:32). He goes on to describe those who live for the here and now as “evil company” (33). When a person denies the existence of God, a future resurrection and eternal life, they have only themselves and the moment for which to live. That perspective lends itself to gross immorality; and fellowshipping with that kind of people “corrupts good habits” (33).
Paul admonishes Christians to “awake to righteousness and do not sin” (vs. 34). The inspired apostle indicated a direct correlation: deny the resurrection, live only for the present, equals sinful life, or, believe in the resurrection of Jesus, we will be resurrected one day, live a righteous life. Atheists would have the world to believe that as a general rule they are just as concerned about morality and doing good toward their fellow man as Christians. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The debauchery and crime of our society is directly linked to our secularization. If we believe there is no God; if we believe that we are the product of a series of accidents and no more important than animals and if we have no hope of an afterlife where we will be rewarded or punished accordingly, then we have nothing to live for but ourselves. And being surrounded by people who think and behave so ungodly can have a profoundly negative influence on otherwise good people.
Know this, there is a last day on the horizon. Jesus is coming. We will stand before Him. We will spend eternity in hell or heaven. Live for eternity.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Brent Smith
Trenton church of Christ
Trenton, TN