PILGRIM TOM Chapter Four MY ENEMIES?

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On the surface it would seem I have few if any enemies.  Of course this could change on a moments notice possibly without announcement, (especially in the case of road rage.)

There are many classifications of enemies; some would fit as friendly competitors where others might be deadly.

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During the depression of the 30s, I knew young men that would go looking for what you might call trouble.  Some would just carry a knife while others would conceal a gun that would be readily accessible. Often on Monday I would hear of someone I knew that had been wounded or killed during the weekend. Some of these fellows were mean while others wanted to look and act mean. If someone from the family didn’t come home on Sunday it was cause for worry.

This sounds something like the happenings today with gang warfare and all that goes on. Interestingly enough the women were often in the center of the conflict and many times were the cause of the problem.

Well that was then and this is now but the conflicts of today go back to the beginning of time.  There are things that are common to us all that could be considered to be enemies such as; sickness, broken personal relationships, poverty and other things that make life more difficult.

The scripture also has a list of bad news items and the root cause can be found within the phrase, “The world, the flesh and the devil.”  The World, the Flesh and the Devil have been called Satan’s counterfeit Trinity.

The world is not what we call the earth but is rather the way of human power, human planning, human reason, and human wisdom. It is the way that puts Man first and assumes that human life and human perception is all there is. It is the philosophy that excludes GOD’S existence and substitute’s man’s intelligence in God’s place.

It refutes Biblical declarations concerning creation, the fall of man and the need for redemption and explains everything with what James calls in; James 3:15  This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

The result of acceptance of the world’s philosophy is what is known as acceding to worldliness. Accepting and promoting a life style that ignores GOD’S directions as to how we should live and conduct ourselves. It rejects in part or all of the righteousness of GOD and replaces it with man’s righteousness.  Many will reject some of that which is worldliness but accept most of it.

When Tom came face to face with this reality he was shocked to learn how far he had slipped in his walk and as the scripture admonishes us prior to taking communion “Let a man examine himself,” and if he is not walking aright he should not partake of the Lord’s supper.

This test needs to be applied to every pursuit of life. What Tom concluded from viewing worldliness is that one must renew his dedication to God each and every day.

 This post has been linked to Michelle’s Thought Provoking Thursday