The mindset can best be summed up this way - Everything is really about ME. Life and living is about, and should be about ME and what I want, the choices I make to make ME happy, and for ME to enjoy life while I can. Choices by other people should not make any requirements of ME, or place any restrictions on ME. If they do, I can ignore them and reject them. If something feels right TO ME, then it is right FOR ME. No one has the right to tell ME otherwise, not even God. If He does exist, a loving God should want ME to be happy. He made ME and should accept ME just as I am and He should already know it's impossible for ME to change even with His help.
The ME society is on a crash course with self-destruction.
The glory of self is exalted above the glory of God.
The video at the bottom of this post captures the essence of a disease so deadly that its victims end up destroying themselves...It is the disease of "ME - ITIS" or self. There is no known human cure. The only remedy is through the renovation of the soul by the power of God's grace in Christ. This remedy is announced in the first angel's message of Revelation 14
in contrast to the thinking of modern society.
REVELATION 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
REVELATION 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters.
IT IS A CALL TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD - NOT TO SELF AND NOT TO MAN
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD ?
WHERE CAN WE FIND AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO GAVE GLORY TO GOD ?
And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (Luke 17:11)
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: (Luke 17:12)
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (Luke 17:13)
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. (Luke 17:14)
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, (Luke 17:15)
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
(Luke 17:16)
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (Luke 17:17)
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. (Luke 17:18)
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:19)
THIS LEPER WHO WAS A SAMARITAN AND A STRANGER GAVE GLORY TO GOD
Of all diseases known in the East the leprosy was most dreaded. Its incurable and contagious character, and its horrible effect upon its victims, filled the bravest with fear. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin, and hence was called "the stroke," "the finger of God." Deep-rooted, ineradicable, deadly, it was looked upon as a symbol of sin. By the ritual law, the leper was pronounced unclean. Like one already dead, he was shut out from the habitations of men. Whatever he touched was unclean. The air was polluted by his breath. One who was suspected of having the disease must present himself to the priests, who were to examine and decide his case. If pronounced a leper, he was isolated from his family, cut off from the congregation of Israel, and was doomed to associate with those only who were similarly afflicted. The law was inflexible in its requirement. Even kings and rulers were not exempt. A monarch who was attacked by this terrible disease must yield up the scepter,
and flee from society.
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GIVING GLORY TO GOD AS WE EXAMINE THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS MAN WHO WAS A LEPER, A SAMARITAN AND A STRANGER ?
#1 We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ's help.
We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we should not desire healing. Mercy implies imperfection of the object toward which it is shown. It is because of sin that mercy was brought into active exercise.
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: (Luke 17:12)
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (Luke 17:13)
TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD MEANS THAT WE RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR MERCY BECAUSE WE ARE HOPELESSLY CONTROLLED BY SELFISHNESS AND SO WE APPEAL TO CHRIST FOR MERCY AT THE MERCY SEAT
Inspiration - (Psalms 115:1) Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. SEE ALSO PSALMS 103:17,11 AND ISAIAH 55:6,7
If you have not done so already...
Please...surrender your heart to Christ while there is still time; surrender your thoughts and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves you and died in order for you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin and selfishness in our lives...
God loves you..
God wants you...
Not just to be forgiven...
Not to play church..
But to truly become Christlike
A Christlike person is the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven
and the only kind of person that could be trusted in heaven.