Sin City

Matthew 18:7  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Sin is cunning, baffling, and powerful. 
Not only are we born with it's nature; the temptation which lures the nature to surface in our life waits for us at every corner. The world is sinfully depraved. The crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah are present today in every city, suburb, and community.

Satan is alive and well on planet earth. Some of the things that people think up can have no other origin but him. If you think it's scary now, you should.

Multitudes are drawn away by enticing sin; from children to clergy. The woe that was issued from Christ Jesus is upon those who advertise iniquity and it means; grievous affliction. Even our Lord wants us to take note to the pattern, place, and people from whom sin is promoted. His declaration was that evil...will be met with horror. 

The judgement of God is upon the world. Great affliction will be upon those in particular who advertise and promote wicked behavior.

Sin saturates our culture; from predatory lending, illicit drugs, greed, hate crimes, white collar corruption; the list is endless.

Take for example the world wide web; a technological invention that has linked the continents together. However, in no time pornography appeared on the web. Soon, what used to be in the back corner of bookstores was now available in living rooms across the world.

Jesus said in Matthew 24 that a clear sign of the end times will be an increase of wickedness. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 that the spirit of the anti-christ (lawless one) is already at work in the world. John warned in Revelation 12 ...woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." 

Most of the world is in lock step with the devil and his schemes. Sadly, few even know it. Blind and calloused to the gospel they follow the broad road that leads to destruction. 

2 Corinthians 2:11 Reminds us to be alert to Satan and his perilous traps. He appeals to our weakest virtue enticing us to indulge...just a little.

I believe this is the meaning behind the verse in James 4 that says..."Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 

Satan is lurking about to devour the young and old; families and marriages; the lost and the redeemed and anyone naive to his deceit.

Now more than ever before we need to be vigilant to live holy before God. Holy living blast the enemy back into his lair. It is the spiritual weapon used to defeat the devil and his schemes.

Be advised: to be Godly is the wear a robe of righteousness clearly identifying you as a soldier of the cross. But...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

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