That’s an analogy I can’t get out of my head… as I myself make a leap back into the “world of sharing online”… so it must be the first thing I need to share about I suppose. If it won’t leave my mind, then it is there for a reason. So let’s talk about the Madness that has encapsulated the world today like an unwanted heavy blanket on a hot summer night. 

It’s been lurking in the wings for a lot of years now… I mean forever. That’s why I give it a capital letter, because everyone who can see evil in the world surely can see it is orchestrated by a common enemy. But if we set aside that assumption for a moment, that begs the question: Can we not see that the massive world changes in society, in government, in religion, in relationships, in work, and in leisure all have a specific thing in common? All the people in all those places aren’t really collaborating to take down Truth. But one enemy can orchestrate it all to be so cohesive, many won’t even recognize the plan was to jump on the world scene and try to steal the show. He’s been lurking in the stage wings for so long, waiting and calculating … ready to please.

Yes, you read that right. I know… it has only dawned on me in recent years. The enemy knows that fighting Truth isn’t going to win. The enemy knows that no matter what the topic of the day is, especially in our Western Culture, fighting causes the division the enemy desires, but that’s not the final outcome goal. The enemy’s final goal is to win people to the dark side of lies and deception. The way to do that? PLEASE people. Please their wants, their desires, their personal goals, their agendas. 

And how does the enemy please people? Well, by telling them exactly what they want to hear, of course. And how does that look to Truth believers? Well, it looks like pure madness, of course. And how does that affect True Believers? Well….that can either keep one on the fence about everything – not wanting to ruffle any feathers or lose friends or lose a job, and on and on…

Or, it will push one to make the choice to get off the fence and choose a side. Those who already got off that fence long ago are there to welcome them… or at least we should be. As long as they don’t fall off on the wrong side.

And that, my friends, is what concerns me the most over the last decade. It’s why I am starting my video series. We must talk about all the things that the Madness has confused. We must know the right side of the fence on which to stand with Truth. And we must decide to speak up when God leads us to with His Truth. 

In a world where they try to convince everyone that 2 + 2 = “whatever you want it to be”, who will share the Only Truth there is, if not those of us who truly know it?

• Not the version of “feel good truth” from a wavering blog or book or video or even pastor, because their fifteen minutes of fame is just about up. 
• Not just cherry-picked truth that has become distorted to fit an agenda… because Truth is exclusive by its very definition and can’t be changed while still remaining True. 

• Not the “reinterpreted truth” within some churches, nor the “Scripture is OLD and only good to guide us in our pursuit of individual truth” perverted truth… because it isn’t about us individually. 

Let’s discuss what God thinks about all this division among His own, all the lies being strewn about by people of all kinds, and all manner of “wrong” being called “right”. 

WOE.

Woe is a strong warning to heed. But it is the warning to heed.

Not all Old Testament Scripture is directly related to, tied to, or about all Followers today, the “modern” Believers, if you will. Much of it is taken out of context, unintentionally (but not always), as it is known God never changes, therefore the expectation is “all Scripture applies to every Follower at every moment”. When in fact, some is intended only for a specific people, the people of Israel. And some of it is intended only for those people in a historical context.

But WOE.

Some of it is indeed applicable, as God’s ways are immutable and they are higher than ours. And let’s face it… people will be people in all settings.

In Isaiah 5, where God is talking to the Israelites, His expectations for His people is that they always do right and good and be just. So what does He give warning for that we too should hear loud and clear, especially in a constant-changing world?

Woe to…

12a … but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord,
no respect for the work of his hands.

13 Therefore my people will go into exile
for lack of understanding;

those of high rank will die of hunger
and the common people will be parched with thirst.

14 Therefore Death expands its jaws, opening wide its mouth;
into it will descend their nobles and masses with all their brawlers and revelers.

15 So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled,
the eyes of the arrogant humbled.

And what might be the biggest reference to the Madness ramped-up today…

And heartbreakingly God sees:

4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
    than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
   why did it yield only bad?

That part about wrong called right and right called wrong … Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.

That one isn’t “only” what many of us thought it would be, even just a short 5 years ago… the lying by wolves in sheep’s clothing (and we’ve seen a ton of that lately, haven’t we?)…

But it has grown beyond that to a time when people are branding anyone who says “what is True is Right” and “what is Right is True” now as a liar. We are being called liars for telling The Truth. There can only be one Truth. There cannot be multiple varying “truths” or “your truth” or “their truth”. If they contradict each other, then all but one is a real lie. Maybe. 

I say that because now-a-days it isn’t uncommon to see a group of people with varying opinions and thoughts about a specific subject and yet none be true. We must look for the real Truth.

So what did God see when He looked at His own living this way?

7a … And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
    for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

Read on in Isaiah 5 if you dare let your heart be vulnerable. God’s anger brings nations from afar against them. Successfully. 

Where do we stand now in His immutable ways of dealing with a collective-rebellion? It’s truly heartbreaking to think about … is the One who created us in Love angered because of our collective selfish ways?

But there is a remnant. One of hope. One of Good Race Runners, Truth Tellers, non-fence riders. Let us all strive daily to be in this remnant awaiting our Jesus’ swift return. We have an Audience of One.. One Unchanging, Grace Giving, Forgiving God. 

Let us be ready… living with the eternal perspective in mind. It’s about God and His Truth, and all of us collectively sharing that Truth. Even with those who do not Believe like we do, they will appreciate hearing the actual Truth. It’s getting so confusing out there. Let’s share the Light.

Heather is a writer of Christian Apologetics and is working on her upcoming video and podcast series titled “Talk Spot.” There she will be discussing the hard questions we all ask in life about the eternal perspective and current topics of living in an ever-changing world. She also coaches and teaches writers and blog and business owners how to have an effective presence on the web, with her 25 years of experience in web design and marketing.