Our daughter and son-in-law live just west of Myrtle Beach, SC. The governor of that state has just ordered an evacuation of that area. Kate says they will probably stay unless the storm changes trajectory, which is now over 50 miles north of their location. They’re going to ride it out as they’ve done before.
That got me thinking about how life in our degenerating culture is a lot like a hurricane. It’s unpredictable. I don’t know about you, but I am constantly surprised at the crazy things I read, hear and see in the world around me. It’s as if everyone has gone bouncing off the walls insane. I can’t even keep track of all that comes down the track anymore. (Not that I want to)
Like a hurricane our cultural shifts are often accompanied by a lot of wind. People spend huge amounts of time talking about what to wear this week, what to listen to this week, who is the next big thing in the world. And then, of course, there are those like me who spend a lot of time bemoaning all of this. Lot’s of wind and words blowing around.
And then there’s the rain. Way too much rain for the ground to hold, so it runs off and the streams flood and homes and fields are damaged. I’ve been through several of these things and they’re never fun.
The culture of this country is indeed like a hurricane–unpredictable and over all destructive. But just as my daughter and son-in-law intend to ride out hurricane Florence, so we, the followers of Jesus, must ride out the cultural thrill ride that is America in the 21st century. We can’t control the culture, but we can live as examples of what a God focused culture would look like. We can be the light in the darkness and the port in the storm for those God is calling out of worldliness and into godliness. We can, indeed we must, be the people of God who are different. If we try to imitate the culture in any serious way, it will take us over. Only when we stand beside, and yet apart, can we serve God, to whom be all the glory, now and forever. Amen and amen.
goodnewsforabadworld 