We Live in a Different World

Richard Hollerman

Some time ago we wrote an article that was put into a booklet, entitled, “Times are Changing.” In this important work, we showed that things are different now than they were 80, 100, or 120 years ago. In some ways, we must say that there has been advancement, with antibiotics, with vaccines, with better ethnic relations, and with motorized vehicles. But, alas, in other ways, we must say that there has not been advancement but extreme regression and defeat. This is particularly true in regard to cultural themes.

I was reminded of this just recently regarding a couple of the high-profile matters in America. For example, we wrote an article that we published yesterday regarding the death of the mastermind of the 9-11 attacks on the New York Twin Towers. Further, in an article I just read today, it gave a dozen or two dozen of negative features that have come to this country through the radical Islamic community regarding the Muslims in America and around the world.

Of course, the destruction of the New York Twin Towers is a leading example. Nearly 3,000 people died and many thousands of people were injured, plus there has been cancer, COPD, changes in the airline industry, and changes in the banking and security departments. This country of the United States is not the same as it was only 30 years ago, let alone the features of this country 50 or 100 years ago. Yes, as the article purported rightly, today we live in a “different” world and I, for one, don’t like it at all. We realize that millions of others would say the same thing.

Although we may blame radical Muslims for this change, we know that it goes beyond this. It is true that Islam has changed a lot of matters and this religion is to blame. We refer to the Muslim organizations in North Africa and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has erected dozens of high-class and high-cost edifices, not only in America but also in Europe and in other countries. Their false religion has brought about this sort of “change” and strong reaction, but it goes beyond this.

Life, with its many changes has changed and this has been caused by a change in civilization, a change in views, a change in religion, and a change in practices. As much as we would like, we can’t return to what it might have been like 80 or 150 or 200 years ago. Many things have changed and they will continue to change as the years go by.

Just today, we learned what we already knew, that house prices are much higher. Wages are higher. The price of gasoline is much higher. Food prices are higher. And so numerous items of modern life have changed. Some might say that they have been changed for the worse and not for the better. Gasoline now may be $3.00 or $7.00 a gallon. I can recall when gasoline was selling for 18 cents a gallon! A house could be purchased for $12,000 to $20,000 but today it may be $150,000 or $400,000—depending on where one lives. Cars could be bought for much less than today, airline tickets would be cheaper, education would be much lower. But today is different. Much different.

We are only dealing with the financial matters above, but as you know the social and moral aspects have not only changed but they have changed for the worse. They have radically deteriorated. During the past one hundred years, we find immorality, second marriages, sodomy (homosexuality), transgenderism, evolution, music, and so much more going down, down, down! There seems to be no end in sight. Perhaps through the primary, secondary, and college/university level education, we find secularism, relativism, pluralism, worldliness, liberalism, and so many other negative influences and elements dragging American down. In many other nations of the world today we find the same deleterious effects of living today.

We encourage our readers to “not be found together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14a). Why? “What partnership have righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship  has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (vv. 14b-16a). The apostle then writes, “Come out from their midst and be separate.” Says the Lord (v. 17).

This reminds us of Revelation 18:4, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins.” We know that this is a different context, but it says just what we would like to say: come out of the wickedness, the evils of society, the immorality of this world, and live a holy and separated life!

Yes, we are living in a different world and although nearly all of the world goes along with this degradation, the blasphemy, the wickedness and unbelief. We must live a higher and nobler life! Let us draw near to God and trust in the Lord, and pursue holiness rather than the evils all around us! (Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14). The world may change—but as believers, we can find our refuge and courage in God!