September, 2002

The anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attack is just around the corner. I’m sure emotion will be running high for Americans as “the day” is becoming imminent. A year after this terrible tragedy and with the extra measure of homeland security, I wonder how many people really feel safer now than before. Though it might be true that people are more cautious, but safer, I don’t think so. In fact, I think people are more paranoid. A few months ago, the entire LAX was evacuated because a man left his pair of shoes at the security checkpoint. He was running late for his flight so he didn’t bother to wait for clearance. Last month, the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces were guarding Golden Gate Bridge because they received a “tip” that there would be an attack on “a” bridge. It seems that we can no longer tell what is a real threat and what is not. This certainly doesn’t give anyone a safe feeling.

The Bible tells us that this world is in a direct collision course with God. Many people sincerely ask, “If there is a God, why isn’t He doing something about this world?” The answer is that God is doing something about it, but He isn’t doing what we have expected. Since the world at large rejected God, so He “gave them over” to do whatever they felt like (Romans 1:21-32). Three times, the phrase “God gave them over,” was used in that passage. The world is how it is today because of men’s choice, and God decides to let them suffer their consequences.

How true it is when we look at this country. We have been hearing so much “child abduction” and “rape” lately. It is not without cause. I was watching a TV program last night. It was about how much advertisement has changed. Commercials are showing a lot of “skin.” The conclusion was “Sex sells!” With the explosion of internet and the loose control of pornography on internet, anyone can get access to those materials. I wonder how many people really think that children under 18 will have the discipline not to go to those sites. If you think it is bad now, wait until five to ten years from now when this generation of teenagers who have a twisted mind from this “garbage” becomes adults. The majority of the people know that it is evil because it ruins people’s minds. But why isn’t it stopped? “Free Speech” is a nice front, but behind veneer is greediness—Sex sells! Listen to what the Bible says, “God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.”

This world is in direct collision course with God, and one day, it will explode! Before I sign off, I urge all of you to be in good terms with God if you haven’t done so; to stand firm in your faith despite disheartening news; and to clean up our lives in preparation for Jesus’ coming.

Pastor Larry

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