Out To Change Our World

By The Truth Of God's Powerful Word

 

          Our world is in a mess. People are error prone and our world is filled with evil. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) God made it clear that He intended a certain behavior from mankind. However, man became disobedient, immoral, self-righteous, critical and self justifying. Our nation is filled with lust, gluttony, greed, idleness, anger, envy and pride. Humanism has caused the entire notion of sin to be removed from modern day thinking. People rape and rob; they murder and molest, steal and kill and no one seems to think that it is wrong. In America most people do not want forthright preaching against sin. Not many want to call sin what it really is, evil!

 

          If we are ever to change our world we must be bold with the word of God. We must speak up for decency, right and for the will of God. The word of God is powerful. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The word of God has the power to influence and change the lives of men in this world. His word has the power to justify or condemn and it will judge us in the last day. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)

 

          What is the power to change our world? The truth of God is the only power that will change our world. The word of God is the incorruptible seed which, when planted in an honest and good heart brings salvation. "Having been born again, not of cor­ruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) The world MUST hear and learn the truth! Pilate and others have asked, "What is truth?" The word of God is truth. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17)

 

          The idea today is that sin is not so bad, so even we who are believers just sit quietly while our world becomes more and more engulfed in spiritual darkness. Sin has separated man from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) The power to turn our world right side up again is the word of God. The word of God is the "word of rec­onciliation" or the word which brings about reconciliation. "That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19) The word of God is the seed which produces the kingdom of heaven. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11) The expression “Kingdom of heaven” is unique to the gospel of Matthew. It is used in Matthew 32 times in the King James Version of our Bible. There is a spiritual war going on. Satan is doing all that he can to keep people out of the kingdom of heaven. Look around and you will see how successful he has been.   

 

          Sin had brought death but the word of God is the "word of life." “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20) Sin has brought condemnation but the word of God is the "word of salvation." "Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent." (Acts 13:26) It is way past time for those of us that are Christians to stand up and speak up for God for right and for decency. The word of God is the "sword of the spirit" which is the weapon we are to use in our battle against Satan. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17) The word of God instructs us how to live, how to die and how to be prepared for that world to come. Is the word of God hidden in your heart? "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!" (Psalm 119:11)

 

          Will it do any good to deliver God’s message to our world? The word of God will accomplish that for which God sent it. "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) The word of God is not a dead letter. It is living and active. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) God will perform His word. “Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.” (Jeremiah 1:12) Let us ring forth the word of God loud and clear! God in our lives is the only hope for our world.

 

          How foolish we have all been. The deception of sin makes fools of those overcome by it. The word of God makes us wise unto salvation. "And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15) Sin produces death. (Romans 6:23) The word of God produces life. "But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

 

          The word of God will save our world by saving our soul. "Who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:21) The word of God produces spiritual growth. "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:1-2) The word of God shows Christians how to behave themselves or conduct their lives in God's kingdom. "But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15) Our world could improve immediately if people would simply live by the word of God.

 

          Because the word of God is God's "power" to salvation, the "word of life" and the word which brings salvation; God commanded that it be preached to every creature. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) The world will change only through the preaching of God’s word! Faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17) and "without faith it is impossible to please God." "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) Let us change our world by using the word of God.

 

          To go to heaven we must have God's approval. Only those who study have His approval. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Sin makes a person filthy and dirty. The word of God brings cleansing. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:3) It is time to use the word of God to clean up our world.

 

          A terrible end is awaiting those who do not love and obey God's word. "And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."                             (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

 

          A soul is not converted without the word of God because, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7)

 

          God has revealed His will in the Bible. He expects us to use His book in getting acquainted with His nature and in obedience to His will. Do you have a desire to know God's will? "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." (John 7:17)

 

          Paul said to Timothy, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2) All who are saved from sin must "gladly receive God's word." "The word of God is living and powerful."

 

                  We have no other choice but to be bold enough to hold the Bible up as the standard, and to say to the sinner it is the word of God. Is it your desire to honor God? If so it is time to become a Christian now! To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) After baptism follow Jesus in faithfulness as He leads you home to heaven. (Revelation 2:10)

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA