The god of this world set out on a carefully crafted mission many years ago with the sole purpose of setting a trap that in due time would catch God’s people and render them useless and powerless. This trap was masterfully conceived and flawlessly executed. Over time, this trap was refined so that the counterfeit looks exactly like the genuine.

For thousands of years, people made do with what they had and never bothered themselves with thinking there was anything better. Unless one was royalty, there was nothing much in this life except a roof over one’s head, clothes covering one’s body and enough food to survive. Most people spent most of their lives doing whatever it took to keep these three things in place while adding children so as to keep the family line going.

At about the same time as the Reformation, there arose what has been called the “age of enlightenment”. It was during this age that the common man began to see there was more available in this life than to be a slave to some rich person. As more and more people became educated and skilled in more than just farming, ranching etc, restlessness grew in people’s hearts to have more and live better than the previous generation.

For hundreds of years, revolutions spread from Europe to the United States and beyond as people yearned for the freedom to pursue happiness and the wealth to purchase it. It all seemed so pure and good at the time, but in reality; the switching of priorities from personal devotion to God and family to “following one’s dream” to attain riches and the “good life” represented a huge change that has only snowballed over the years.

Despite two world wars, a Great Depression, pandemics and incredible natural disasters; the twentieth century represents the greatest 100 years of change in history. With huge advances in communication, transportation, education, medicine and technology of every type; the world changed radically between 1900 and 2000. In fact, one could say more changes took place in the twentieth century than all others combined.

As great as these changes were, there was a price to be paid. These changes cost money and to get that money, people had to basically sell their souls. The simple life embodied in all centuries preceding the 1900’s was replaced by a type of living that is complex and whose priorities are askew and whose glory goes to man and not God.

Automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines, telephones, computers, cell phones etc all have made life much better in some ways but have cost many their heart for God and family. People end up working 50, 60 or more hours per week just to pay the debts incurred by getting everything they wanted NOW. Like a snowball racing down a mountain, the changes overtaking this world are swallowing up individuals, families, communities and the church.

Look around; how many people know HOW to live vs. living in a constant state of upheaval and dissatisfaction because they don’t have the most current high tech this or that? People have lost the ability to live a simple life with only what they NEED to be happy. People have been driven like cattle into believing they cannot be happy unless they have this or that new and expensive thing.

The amount of debt people have incurred getting “stuff” is mind boggling. The amount of time stolen from God and family to work enough to get this “stuff” is beyond description. The amount of “Heart for God” that has been ripped out by the incessant junk this “stuff” promotes represents the goal the enemy had in mind long ago.

I leave you with these poignant words written in 1 John 2:15-17 which could have been penned this morning. Please take heed to what the Lord has said here and understand the vital need in doing what is stated.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him .

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world .

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. ”

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