Old Thoughts for the New Day 15

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2—NIV)

Whether we know it or not, the personalities of the children are being imprinted by what they see and hear by audio-visual techniques. The images may not persist in the mind but they are present in the subconscious. They will show themselves at some point.

The same Sunday evening the young people presented a film about the conversion of a tribe in Papua, New Guinea, made by the New Tribes Missions. As I watched this film I realized that the children and young people were being imprinted with pictures and sounds that would make the Lord Jesus rejoice. How different from "The Titanic"!

The enemy got past us on this one.

From what I hear the prophetic ministries from various places saying, I believe we are entering an era of intense spiritual conflict. In time past God may have winked at Christian people going to such entertainment. There is a price to pay for partaking of the moral filth of the American culture.

"The Titanic," although milder indeed than some of the depravity being shown today in America, is definitely what John meant when he spoke of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. When we are comfortable with entertainment of this kind, the love of the Father is not in us. At least this is what the Scripture states.

I understand thoroughly that we cannot force such abstinence on young people. They have to make their own decisions. But we who are watching on the wall must sound the alarm when we see the enemy. And we can explain to our young people the holy requirements of the Lord. We owe them that.

Does such entertainment redeem the time by bringing us closer to God? While watching are we setting our affections on things above? Is our participation in such exhibitions of the flesh and soul compatible with the Christians in the arenas of Rome or living in the Catacombs with their children? What about the Christians being tortured in China while we are watching worldly films? Is such behavior on our part godly and right or not?

While watching the moral filth that proceeds from Hollywood, California, are we preparing ourselves to return with Jesus Christ and drive sin from the world?

Can you picture the Lord Jesus enjoying "The Titanic" while the cries of the Christians being crucified in Sudan are ringing in His ears?

If you can, you and I are not serving the same Lord Jesus Christ.

Will the real Jesus please stand up!

All the moral filth you have seen and heard, and have permitted your children to see and hear while you had control over them, you are going to meet in the Day of Resurrection. Please don't wait to find out if I am correct. You can wash your robes today in the blood of the Lamb, and then you are clean and will not have to answer for your behavior. Sin must be confessed, renounced, turned away from.

"Oh Brother Thompson, God does not require external holiness!"

You want to bet?

Continued. Old Thoughts for the New Day 16