📢 Forum Update - Hello everyone! I've made an improvement to the forum that should make following active discussions much easier. Beginning today, forum topics will display the most recent replies first (while keeping the original topic post at the top), so you no longer have to navigate through multiple pages to find the latest conversation. This change also helps improve the browsing experience in long-running discussions with many pages of replies. If you notice anything that doesn't seem to be working correctly or have any feedback, please let me know. — Richard G. Indeed we are becoming more egocentric by the day. It's all about us. Spurred by entertainment industry, education and sports, it is even found in the "gang" mentality as well. Self, self, self. Whether it's all about "busting a move" or "busting a cap"! The exaltation of self is found in every arena of modern life. All fueled by teachings of self awareness, philosophies of self determination, and social movements of empowerment! The "I will" generation! We have epitomized the diametrically opposed teaching of "dying to self"! Esteeming others before ourselves is hardly in vogue! We have discussed the dangers of deception and pride. I now add self exaltation to this list. This also being one of the mainstays of Satan! This self determination of self exaltation is the mainstay of civilized nations today. Self exaltation leaves no room for bowing before creator God! Whereas worshiping false man-made idols and gods does not exclude self exaltation! What say you? TR "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight". Isa.5:21 It seems the more people turn away from God, the more they feel a need to replace Him with idolatry of the self. There used to be a tendency to put humanity in the place of God; now people have decided only their own selves are worth the attention. Indeed another signpost or marker of how far we have fallen! And how close we are to the end. Kinda reminds me of the "I will's" of Satan. I see so many parallels with his heart. His most infamous I will, is when he says he will rise and set his throne above the throne of God! This is all we here from humans today. When God visited the tower of Babel He understood even then that whatever man set his mind towards or could imagine, he would eventually accomplish! The point being is that the evils within our society are being seen throughout the world! This is not the fall of just one nation, but every nation. As stated on a different post, God is revealing to all, the hearts of men! I believe this is indicative to the last days, so that none will have excuse against the judgments of God! This is also why I believe the Lord tarry's. Letting their cup of sins be filled to the uttermost! TR TR, I believe many nations will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology as I believe we are seeing the equaling and in some cases even the surpassing of their sin. Taiwan just legalized same sex marriages. Human trafficking is up 100%, the abuse of children is on the rise, and add that to the new stats on abortion around the globe, it is appalling and heartbreaking. In my small next of the world, east coast Virginia, the drug traffic is growing by leaps and bounds. We have an increase by 80% over last year of fatal deaths related to drug overdose and increase by 50% (guesstimate) of infants born cocaine and/or THC positive. Lovers of self is so true, and as in the days of Noah, as the city of Sodom, as in the time of Ahab and the Kings who did not follow after God. Pagan rituals rising, witchcraft and the worship of satan proclaimed equal to Christianity, and now the rise of Muslims. We we are clearly seeing the hearts of men turn cold and indifferent to the things of God —- certainly yet another sign the age of Grace is coming to a close. :prayer-hands:
