So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the [culture around you does], in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:17–24, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Sensuality is the pursuit of pleasure to the body and senses rather than the mind and spirit. Or as Paul states, indulging “in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Our “old self…corrupted by its deceitful desires.” This is becoming more-and-more characteristic of our culture. Not yet like it was in the days of Noah, where “the LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5, NIV 1984).
Every, only and all. Quite an indictment of that culture. And, of course, we all know the rest of that history lesson. A thing of the past? Unfortunately, no. In His “Olivet Discourse” Jesus said, “as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37–39, NIV 1984).
Every, only and all. Not there yet, with perhaps a considerable way to go. That may be true. But the trajectory certainly does not look good, with precious few signs of reversing course. Not impossible, but some day, “that is how it will be.”
My Advice – So, what should we as Christians do? First off, continue to “put off [our] old self…be made new in the attitude of [our] minds…put on the new self.” Second, “be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return. It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.” (Luke 12:35–36, 43, NIV 1984).
The Brew Is A Musing 