INDIFFERENCE!

Thursday, June 25, 2020

[A classic]

INDIFFERENCE!

Matt 24:37-39

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

As a pastor, I am not so frustrated by the sins of my congregation as their INDIFFERENCE. Just like the world of that time, we have made great progress in the arts and civilization of life. But great luxury has produced infamous immorality, cruelty, and widespread indifference to the claims of God. It is amazing how thoroughly we can present Christ without a response from the congregation!

Our age is not moved by the gory details of the death of the Son of God on the cross. “The Passion of the Christ” was highly touted as the film that would turn America to revival. Theaters were packed with popcorn eating people who casually watched the Christ lacerated by the whip. Indifference was the result and the response.

Neither has great tragedy turned our stony hearts to flesh. The visual images of airplanes exploding into the World Trade Center shocked and frightened us. Mid-week services were packed with people who would never have considered a church prayer meeting but it did not last. Tornados, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes and earthquakes have not shaken us from our lethargy and unconcern.

Few people plan to reject Christ ultimately. They plan to accept Him by-and-by, but they want the morning for themselves. They will turn to Christ in the afternoon or evening of their lives. Their thought is that life is too full of color to choose the drab coat of religion too soon. George Morrison puts it this way: “"Betwixt the stirrup and the ground, I mercy sought, and mercy found."

Matt 24:39

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The verse says “knew not” but the meaning is more “cared not” – were not aware of the danger. Why did they not know? Was the building of an ark by a family of fanatics for a voyage on a sandy sea not sign enough? Was the preaching of an old weary man not clear enough? No, the flood came, and took them all away.

Dear Lord, remove from me the indifference caused by luxury and cultural carelessness. Make my heart your home and renew a right spirit within me. AMEN