We live in an age in which (as is usual with human beings), beliefs abound while convictions are in short supply—perhaps the shortest ever.  This generation delights in sharing personal information of all kinds, and with virtually everyone, but is especially fond of trumpeting its beliefs.  And for good or ill, this generation has a seemingly limitless array of options for communicating them.

Traditional means of viewpoint dissemination, like television and motion pictures, music, books and magazines, billboards, posters, mailings, rallies, protests, activism, bumper stickers, personalized license plates, tattoos, and tee-shirt sloganeering, now seem old-fashioned and absurdly limited.  Ever-evolving technology has brought the Internet, social media, self-publishing (including photos, videos), instant polling, on-line petitions and funding appeals, blogs, vlogs, email, text, instant messages, chat, smartphones, voicemail, podcasts, emojis, avatars, icons, usernames, domain names, adaptive “pop-up” advertising, and so forth.

Thanks to these fairly recent developments, we can now say more and more about less and less—in terms of meaning, commitment and worth—and say it faster to more people than ever before.  Call it narcissism (which it most surely is) or just a misguided bid for approval and acceptance (also true), but the torrent of virtue signaling gushes forth unabated.  Is this flood of conversation about ‘who we are’, our ‘core values’, and ‘our passion’ based on principle, rooted in conscience, and centered in the will?

In the vast majority of cases the answer, sadly, appears to be, ‘no.’  Turns out the virtues being furiously signaled are seldom those of the frantic crowd-pleaser and mob-appeaser.  Who would have guessed?  There is pathos as well as pathology in a desperation so extreme that one may search for belonging by chasing the approbation of a convocation of squawking parrots.  It is a quixotic quest, for there is no virtue in simply learning to ape socially correct behaviors and to mouth the latest catchwords, reflecting mere convention—the arbitrary, transitory, and weightless moral consensus of a single moment.

Pathetic it may be, but acknowledging reality does no harm (the same cannot be said of ignoring reality, which is and always has been, the fountainhead of misery).  Take the existence of God, for example.  The Bible declares that, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalm 14:1).  It repeats this in Psalm 53:1, and echoes it in Romans 1:20-22: 

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…”

For those who find the flickering candlelight of truth as searing as a klieg light in the eyes, I can offer no real hope.  If you are still stubbornly refusing to acknowledge God’s reality, prizing the world’s approval above God’s approval, there is not much more to say.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, put it this way: “…They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17; see also Matthew 9:13, Luke 5:32)

Since the Bible makes plain that “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) and “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), what was He driving at?  Jesus meant that those who think they have no need of a Savior, no need of a doctor because THEY are not sick (with sin), are deluded and will not come to Him to have their souls salvaged and made whole (though He is willing and indeed, longs to heal them).

Jesus amplifies on this point elsewhere: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”  (John 3:16-21, emphasis added)

If you are a fool or are acting like one—saying in your heart that there is no God and that you have no need of the Savior because there is nothing wrong with you—remember, I haven’t diagnosed your heart condition, God has.  You’re not HIS creator, HE is YOURS, and He knows you far better than you know yourself.

Are you at last ready to swallow your pride, repent of your sins (to turn from them, not simply to say you’re sorry), and to call on the name of the Lord, in surrender to Him?  He has been patient with you since your birth.  How much longer will His patience last?  How many more chances can His justice and holiness allow before your appointment with judgment arrives?

I don’t know.  But I do know that you do not want to procrastinate further and find out.  Personally, I think God’s indignation at those who reject the sacrifice of His only begotten Son and slap away Jesus’ outstretched hand that holds the pardon He died to give them, is perfectly understandable and appropriate (though He has not asked my opinion).

It’s time, wouldn’t you say—well past time—to stop thinking of the cross as something to wear.  It is not a fashion accessory—not a gaudy chunk of cheap costume jewelry, to complement an outfit or when going for that cool, retro religious vibe.  Many people of faith wear one and there is nothing wrong with that, so long as it serves to remind them of Jesus’ sacrifice in their place, that paid the penalty, the awful price of their sin. 

The cross was an instrument of slow and excruciating torture, of public shame and of agonizing, bloody death.  The cross is something that you bear, as the Master did: “…[Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)  

To come after Jesus means to pursue Him, to stay close on His heels, to go where He goes, and to walk as He walks.  You can’t follow someone who’s behind you.  To come after Jesus, also means to put Jesus first, ahead of you in priority.  Isn’t that long overdue?

To deny yourself means to stop insisting on having things your way, always contending for your rights, your privileges, your perks and your comfort.  It is to withdraw all claims to exclusive ownership of your time, talent and treasure.  To do this is to tear up your agenda and substitute Jesus Christ’s.  It calls for the abandonment of your schemes for using and manipulating others, and to follow GOD’s plan for your life, instead.

Are you willing to enter through the narrow gate of love and loyalty to Christ, no matter what He has in mind, even if it means suffering and even martyrdom?  Will you seek His will and way for you each day and humbly submit to them, taking them up as your cross to bear?  

If so, I urge you to read on and to act now.  But if not, if you have doubts or question your own ability to be faithful, don’t despair.  There is hope for you, too.  Your commitment will surely waiver.  Your resolve and your strength will not be enough.  But that’s not the issue.  The power and fidelity needed for living the Christian life doesn’t come from you.  It comes from God.  The secret to success is dependency upon the Holy Spirit.  Don’t let fears of unworthiness or insecurity hold you back.  Christ Jesus will enable you to follow Him, if you ask Him to.  Ask Him.  Serve Him.  Shoulder your cross and follow Him wherever He leads.  You’ll be eternally glad and thankful that you did.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)