Seems like I recall, way back
there in another world, people used to blush. If I recall,
embarrassment seemed
to be the main trigger that would cause the “red face.”
We, and I speak generally,
don’t seem to be embarrassed by much of anything these days. The days of
innocence are long gone.
There used to be a time when
a man would never say a “bad word” in front of a woman. Most guys I knew
wouldn’t even say those bad words among one another. Today is a new day
however, and I don’t think we have progressed. To the contrary, we have
regressed to the point that we are seldom shocked by what we see and hear.
I’ve said this before, but
it’s worth repeating. When I was young I’ll never forget an old preacher
saying, that when the women in society start acting like men in how they talk
and act, society is in for a downfall.
Anyone who has ever watched a
movie or television would have to admit that there is little difference, if
any, in the language and behavior coming from most women on the screen and
their male counterparts. It is nothing unusual for my wife and me to change the
channel for that reason, or to pitch a DVD in the trash.
Along with the “F” word,
profaning the holy name of Jesus Christ seems to be the darling of most foulmouthed
“stars.”
Would you like to view some
sexual scenes? Well, you don’t have to sneak down a dark alley and buy
something off the black-market. Just turn on your TV or stroll on over to your
computer. Maybe that’s why our
television is seldom on.
Don’t you think “conscience”
has something to do with being embarrassed? I do. The medical experts and
psychological junkies may disagree, but what do they know?
God has a way of just saying
it like it is. So, here’s what God says about it.
“To the pure, all things are
pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In
fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God,
but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit
for doing anything good.” (Titus 1:15-16)
Isn’t it obvious that our
conscience has a lot to do with “why we don’t blush anymore?” Our consciences
are corrupted. The KJV says they are defiled. I can’t argue with that. If you
really want a clear picture of why we no longer blush, read Romans 1:18-32.
This is one scary Scripture passage, basically because every word of it
describes our society to a tee.
I think it’s clear now that
our consciences are like a rotten head of lettuce. They’re gross and stink, but
let’s move on with this next verse that comes to mind.
“The Spirit clearly says that
in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and
things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose
consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
(1 Timothy 4:1-2)
Have you ever asked yourself
how some people can do and say things in public and never miss a beat? No
embarrassment at all. The only blush from them is powdered on with makeup.
We have lost the ability to
blush because our consciences “have been seared as with a hot iron.” Nothing
bothers us. Nothing makes us uncomfortable. Nothing in our soul is telling us,
“This is wrong and I can’t do this.” The guilt feelings have flown the coop.
Nothing should be scarier to
a human being than to no longer have a conscience. When our conscience no
longer bothers us, we are dangerously far from God. A person can likely not be
saved, not because Jesus can’t do so, but because they have no interest in
Jesus.
Blushing is an outward
expression of an inward state, the conscience. If we are past the point of
being embarrassed, we need to take immediate action and allow God to restore us
(if we are a Christian). If we are not a Christian, we need to ask Jesus to
save us and tenderize our conscience.
Paul in the last two
Scripture verses gives Timothy some good advice that would benefit us all.
“Timothy, my son, I am giving
you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by
recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good
conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard
to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over
to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”
(1 Timothy 1:18-20)
Why do so many Christians
have such a wishy-washy faith? Some have not held, “on to faith and a good
conscience.” Instead of clinging to faith and a good conscience, they have
rejected both and sailed far from God.
Let us not gauge our
Christianity by how much we do or do not blush. However, if little to nothing
no longer embarrasses us, maybe we have allowed ourselves to wander from the
sheepfold. If we are His sheep, Jesus will always be our Shepherd, but have we
wandered away from Him and lost the fellowship we had when He saved us? It can
easily be restored if we draw near to Him.
“Let us draw near to God with
a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our
hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies
washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he
who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:22-23)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
