ÿþ<html> <title>Chaplain Corner Submissions - Ben Caudill Chaplain's Corner</title> <body> <font size 4 face=times new roman<br> <blockquote> <p align=justify> <b><font size=+2> Lesson 299: Being Holiest in Evil Times </font></b> <br><br> Chaplain William McKiven <p align=justify> <font size=4> <br><br> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''><center>Being the Holiest in Evil Times.<br> <br></center> We should be holiest in evil times. The profaneness of the times should not slacken our zeal but heighten it. The looser others are the stricter we should be.</p> </div> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>The way to hell is a well-trodden road.  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil Exodus 23:2. Dead fish swim down the stream living fish swim against it. Mere professors cut the garment of their religion according to the mode and fashion of the times.<span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>Let us keep up the vigor of our zeal, in degenerate times. We should by a holy contrariness burn hotter in a frozen age. We live in the dregs of time; sin is grown common and impudent. It is excellent to walk contrary to the world. Let us be as lilies and roses among the briars. Sin is never the better because it is in fashion! The impiety of the times, is a foil to set off grace all the more, and give it a greater luster.</p> </div> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>This plea will not help at the last day  that we did as most others did. God will say,  Seeing you sinned with the multitude you shall go to hell with the multitude! Oh, let us keep pure among the dregs! Let us be like fish, which retain their freshness, in salt waters.<span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>It is better to go to heaven with a few than to hell in the crowd!  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat &nbsp; Matthew 7:13-14.ÿþ <span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>Sometimes one can<span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>t say it better than those great Puritan preachers of the past. These words from Thomas Watson<span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>(1620-1686) speak great volumes of truth. We are to be salt and light in a dark and bitter world, but to do so there are things we must give up. We cannot continue in the ways of the world and be separated unto God at the same time. We cannot watch the evil and filth on television and in the movie theaters and think we won&#39;t be affected by it. When a so-called Christian tells a lie it is just as evil in the sight of God. Back-biting, gossip, slander, and sowing discord are still sins no matter how many &quot;professions of faith&quot; one makes and they must be repented of and put out of our lives. There are no gray areas in the scriptures. The scriptures say what they mean and mean what they say. There are no hidden secrets to those who are being led by the Holy Spirit. If we profess to be followers of Christ yet continue to live a life that is no different from the secular world then we must question that profession of faith.<span style='color:#1F497D;'></span></p> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>Proverbs 6:12-19 (KJV) <br> 12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. <br> 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; <br> 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. <br> 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. <br> 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: <br> 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, <br> 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, <br> 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. </p> </div> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>&nbsp;Galatians 5:19-26 (KJV) <br> 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, <br> 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, <br> 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. <br> 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, <br> 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. <br> 24 And they that are Christ&#39;s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. <br> 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. <br> 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. </p> </div> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>These are just a few examples of the scriptures that tell us how we should and should not live as followers of Christ. The days are short and the Lord Jesus will return for those who are faithful and obedient. We must be prepared for that day. It is time to be serious in your walk with God. We must live what we profess. When&nbsp; professed followers of Christ live unholy lives they do great harm to the witness of the body of Christ. It is our responsibility to live our lives so as not to bring reproach upon the Church. People should see something very different and positive in those who profess the Name of Jesus. <br> I challenge you today to look honestly at your life and see if you are living as the scriptures say you should live and if not then confess your sin and seek God&#39;s mercy and grace. Christ died to deliver us from our sin, not so we could continue in it.&nbsp; 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) <br> 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. </p> </div> <div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal" style=''>Most merciful and gracious Heavenly Father seated on the throne in heaven, I offer you praise O Lord for your greatness and thanks for your undying love. Lord, help us to see ourselves in the light of your Holy Word, guided by your Holy Spirit so that we might live the lives that you would have us live so that we might bring you glory and praise. Lord, please forgive us of our many sins and help us to repent and live in the peace and comfort of your Holy Spirit as we go about our lives in this dark and sinful world. Help us, Lord, to be those lights shining through the darkness so that others will know that there is hope in the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with my soul. Amen.<span style='color:#1F497D;'> </span>Chaplain William McKiven, Our Reflections Of Yesterday</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="yiv1918563236MsoNormal"> &nbsp;</p> </div <br><br> </blockquote> </body> </html>