Changing the World?
by Malcolm Wood
Recently I saw an advert which was suggesting that as the world cannot adapt to us, we should adapt to the world and embrace an example of the latest technology by buying a certain brand of new car.
Sadly, that is exactly what is happening across every area of social, business, economical, and political life of the nations of the world, where governments are being influenced by the desires and demands of their peoples and consequently adapting to the world view of things, or more correctly the spirit of the age. John, in his first letter, reminds us who is really controlling these things. He says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).
As regretful as this is, we shouldn’t be surprised, because Paul explains to Timothy what is to be expected in the last days. He describes what people will be like. He says that they will love only themselves and their money, be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to parents, ungrateful to them and thoroughly bad. Also, they will be hard-headed, constant liars, troublemakers, think nothing of immorality, rough and cruel, prefer good times to worshipping God (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Tragically, the desire to appease people is also evident in certain parts of the Church, where it would seem it is also adapting to the spirit of the age, and either ignoring, or manipulating Scripture, to meet its own purposes. This also is to be expected as, elsewhere, Paul warns Timothy that ‘a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths’ (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
In Romans 12:2, we are instructed not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. In these days, how important it is for us all to hold on to the truth of God’s word and be recognised, as Caleb of old was, as someone ‘of a different spirit’. He chose to believe God, rather than the opinion of the majority around him (Numbers 14:24). Caleb was not alone. All through Scripture, and down through the ages, there have been numerous men and women of faith who have refused to compromise their faith and have courageously held up and lived by God’s plumb line of truth. For so many of these it has meant ridicule, rejection, persecution, torture imprisonment, and for some, even death.
I believe that God is calling us all, in the days that remain before Jesus returns, to make a difference and have influence for good wherever and however we can. And so, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the body of Christ may once again be accused of turning the world upside down! Are we prepared for what that may cost us?
Prayer: Dear Lord, in these days when so many are ignoring You please help me to recognise the opportunities to make a difference for You, and please give me the courage to do so. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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