Hedonism,Denial, and the coming of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord

By Kirk Boswell

•hedonist - someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures


•denial - The negation in logic; A refusal to comply with a request; An assertion of untruth; Refusal to believe a problem exists

    It is my solemn plea that any of you reading this blog to just pause for a moment and reflect on the two words above and their respective meanings. It occurred  to me last night as I was trying to get the kids to understand the times in which we live, the lack of urgency people have regarding the coming day of the Lord. The signs are everywhere, yet we tread along day to day as if nothing is wrong. The world is in utter chaos, our economy is in the tank, nations are bankrupt, people starving, and on and on, yet we here in America pretend as though nothing is wrong. We play all day on Facebook, listen to our ipods, and enjoy all the luxuries the world has to offer all the while being blind to reality.
    How can we expect children, teens, even young adults to understand that this day is real and will come soon? How can they truly care? When all they have is computers, ipods, cell phones, and not a clue or worry in the world? It all sounds like a fairy tale to them. We have sheltered and blinded them to the point of ruin. The church hasn't helped much either. What is Church to a teenager? It's a place to hang out with the youth group. It's a place to go on ski trips. A place for the kids to color and get free candy. What are they being taught? It's all so self centered and delusional. Church's say they have to be this way or the kids wont come. I say what's the point of them coming if they are being taught to believe only partial truth?
    We are a lost people. Big church buildings coast to coast. Complete with coffee shops and book stores. The church has fat bank rolls along with an even fatter mortgage. The Sunday morning social clubs are wrought with apostasy and false teachings. Preachers tickling the people's ears, passing the plate, and assuring the smiling congregant's just how much Jesus loves them. Why would they be looking for the Lord's soon return? I mean with the fat bank accounts, new gyms, and preachers driving around in $50,000 Cadillacs? Doesn't sound like they need anything cramping their lifestyles does it?
    The Bible has clearly warned us of this day. Yet we who call ourselves Christians are so caught up in the middle of this mess we are also too blind to see. Revelation 3: 14-17
 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans[a] write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[b] I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
How can anyone deny this? We read it over and over yet we still just don't get it! We are partakers in this nonsense, but we absolutely refuse to see it! And for all of you who say the church is made up of the people, not the building, then is that not the perfect description of the typical American? Who reading this doesn't have a home? How about 1 or 2 vehicles in the yard? Who's had to miss a meal lately? Who's electricity has been turned off? Please tell me if you have actually had to sacrifice something you desire to help another person in need. Anyone? Yet we gripe and moan at the slightest inconvenience. We spoil our children under the ruse of wanting better for them than we had for ourselves. What about their souls? Our spoiled children are obsessed with the world and all the shiny things that go with it. We say it's just the generation we live in. All the kids are this way. How could we ever deprive our little ones of the debauchery that "all the other kids" are doing? How cruel would that be! But when they spend an eternity in hell, is the blood on our hands? It's a serious question that we need to ask ourselves.
    The Day of the Lord is getting closer everyday. The rapture of the church is even sooner. Has any of this even crossed anyones mind today? Is anyone watching? Can anyone discern the times? Or are we too busy caught up in our own miserable worldly lives to take notice? Does anyone care 30,000 children will die of starvation today? Or is buying your children the latest in name brand clothes your bigger concern? Aren't you glad your child isn't one of those 30,000? Don't like the news? Too much violence, death, and despair? Turn it off and pretend it's not real. Let's talk about football and what people post on Facebook. That is where our priorities are right? Why should we be bothered with reality? Why teach our children that there's more to life than video games and Santa Clause?
    We will all stand before our Creator one day. We will all give account for the things we have done in this life. We can not hide from God. We will be judged. Some to ever lasting life, others to everlasting torment. I personally will have many things to answer for. My children being what frightens me the most. We need to wake up. The times are desperate, yet we carouse around in drunken stupors.  Romans 12: 1-2 :
 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The Word of God is clear. But how can we be saved when we can not truly admit needing a savior? Matthew 7: 21-23 :
 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Who do you think Jesus is referring to here? Atheists? Muslims? Hindus? NO! He is talking to the same people who called apun His name to do works and cast out demons! You call yourself a born again Christian yet your life reeks of the world? A "carnal" Christian? Can there really even be such a thing? Jesus said you will know a tree by it's fruit. Denial is not a river in Egypt. Wake up believers. It's time to choose which master you will serve. It's your choice, and no, you can't serve both. As in the days of Noah, so it is now. So what will you do? Jesus said when we see these things come to pass to look up for our redemption is near. Are you looking up? Or are you pretending tomorrow will be a continuation of today? ......the clock is nearing midnight. Are you ready?