Nature’s Weakening Voice…
NATURE HAS GONE PEAR SHAPED
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” 1 Cor 11:14
The British idiom “gone pear shaped” meaning things have either gone wrong or produced an unexpected and unwanted result, I think, may well fit what we today refer to as “nature.” Nature—not the physical world and everything in it such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc. that is not made by people or the natural forces that control what happens in the world but rather the innate qualities of a human being of which they are born with—human nature.
I read of a recent incident where a woman drove a van into ocean with all her 3 children onboard with the express intent of suicide and Filicide and another mother than upon giving birth places her newborn into a garbage bag and placed it into a dumpster.
These, so out-of-normality, happenings seem to be more frequent in these days of crumbling values. Society is ever more losing its sensitivity to nature’s quickening impulses. Reminds us of 2 Peter 2:12, “But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,” (ERV).
Indeed, it appears, that the evilness of the human heart often checkmates nature, which is God-given. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt. 15:19.
More and more men not only rebel against the Word of God but also against the innate quality of nature itself. Men that fear not God nor man is on the up bound. It becomes more evident that 2 Timothy chapter 3 is proving itself in leaps and bounds. The following is the preamble to man’s condition which causes a chain reaction:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
And that preamble leads to:
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
And that eventually will lead to:
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
I recall vividly the “shock and awe” that the long-haired Beatles caused with their appearance on America’s shores. And the response that was nearly universal among Americans – not just among the “religious” populace. The “look” rather than the “sound” of those British young men were the focus of many conversations. An invasion had arrived and many were not liking their influence on American youth. Well, what the Beatles were are now mild in terms of “looks” and influences that now exist on American youth—a Beatle-dressed and coiffure styled young person on the street today would walk by largely unnoticed. The “shock” value has risen many notches since then—what once was recognized as out-of-place became routine and now no longer shocks.
Is what happens with the world a parallel within the church? Have we lost our abilities “to blush?” Have we become accustomed to worldliness in the church in many areas where they once were denounced and were seen to be very out-of-place in the spiritual realm? Are we constantly climbing to higher levels of what “shocks” us?
Are we becoming spiritual Lots? Lot presents man who became insensitive to impending danger. Lot had become so like his environment and therefore so deafened to God’s warnings that he barely escaped the destruction that befell Sodom. Because of his constant gazing on Sodom Lot became insensitive to the sin of Sodom. We can’t help but believe that this was not the original case with Lot with his first introduction to Sodom—but through time and rubbing shoulders with Sodom—Lot gradually lost the shock that sin once presented.
Samson also offers another warning. Samson, in time, lost his spiritual, then his physical sight. Samson became indifferent to the very enemies he was called to fight and subdue—which proves that only a fresh touch from God can restore spiritual alertness to God’s holiness and to God’s enemies.
“Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.” Moreover, without his knowing it, “Strangers have devoured his strength;” without his knowing it, “Gray hairs are here and there upon him . . .”
Are we, as time passes, losing our strength? Have the original hairs now are becoming the gray hairs of tolerance … and we know it not? Has nature lost her ability to teach?
—jlg—