Be Saved from This Perverse Generation

There is a way that seems right to a man — his culture, his society, his nation, and his generation — but it actually leads to death and destruction (Prv 14:12; 16:25; Mt 7:13). Why has the wide way that leads to destruction produced such appeal with today’s miscreants? It is a paradox. The more we progress, the more we regress.

Progressives are the blind leading the blind into the ditch (Mt 15:14). Far from advancing liberty, their mulish ignorance further enslaves those they have deceived (Jn 8:44). Is the mother, enticed to murder her baby on the altar of convenience, a happier person having killed her offspring? Is the man who dresses himself as a drag queen, reading to children at a library and intending to groom them into a foray of pedophilia, happy with his perversion?

Perversion is nothing new, whether it is bestiality (Lev 18:23), the spreading of strife (Prv 16:28), or simple unbelief (2 Thess 3:2). God has established the way that is true and right (Gen 18:19; Dt 9:16; Ps 18:30). Because of sin, Jesus warned that the way of holiness and godliness is narrow and far less traveled (Mt 7:13–14).

The sin nature in man (Eph 2:3) is stimulated by demons, who influence people to transgress the Law of God (Is 24:5; Jas 2:11; 1 Jn 3:4). It would go well with them, if they obeyed the Law, but lawlessness is common (Rom 3:23; 5:12, 20; 1 Jn 3:4). Sensible authorities will recognize the wisdom of legislating in accordance with God’s Word, which is settled forever in the heavens (Ps 119:89). If we will not judge godless rebels accordingly, God will judge all of us, justly (Gen 18:25; Rom 1:18; 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11).

When truth is suppressed by the ungodly (Rom 1:18), then, darkness persists in cloaking the light of truth. Evil deeds thrive in darkness (Is 5:20 Mt 6:23; Lk 11:34; Jn 3:19), and only God restrains evil and its consequences (1 Sam 25:26; Eccl 8:8; 2 Thess 2:7). In fact, when evil prospers in the individual, group, or nation, it is clear evidence that God is already judging their unrighteousness, having turned them over to a reprobate mind (Rom 1:28; 1 Jn 2:9).

Perverse generations have evil in their hearts (Ps 101:4; Prv 6:14), which is an abomination to the Lord (Prv 11:20). Perversity infiltrates the mind (Prv 12:8), and even the sociologists can tell us about “group think.” From the heart and the mind of the perverse comes the speech of fools (Prv 19:1), who crush the spirit of the poor (Prv 15:4), bringing divisions (Prv 16:28). The double-minded man, group, or nation cannot stand, being unstable in all their ways (Ps 119:113; Jas 1:8; 4:8).

The church of Jesus Christ is not immune. Perverse and evil men, who have no faith (Jn 10:26; 2 Thess 3:2) will entice members to desert the simplicity of the Gospel (Gal 1:6), drawing away disciples after them, by speaking perverse things (Acts 20:30). These delight in seeing Christ’s church in disobedience and disarray. These wolves in sheep’s clothing will bring in the popular perversities of the wicked world around us, and they will celebrate and promote sin, calling evil “good” and good “evil.”

Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8), the Christian is the same in every generation, culture, and nation. We are lights in a dark world (Phil 2:15). We are people of truth (Ps 15: 26:3; 3 Jn 1:3–4), in a world of lies and deception (2 Jn 1:7; Rev 12:9). We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20), who speak boldly, as we ought to speak (Eph 6:20).

Our task, in the company of the perverse, is to make Christ known (Acts 4:10; 1 Cor 15:1; Gal 6:14; Col 1:27; 2 Pet 1:16). He is King Jesus (Ps 148:11; 1 Tim 6:15), the Lord, our righteousness (Jer 23:6; 33:16), who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God (Lk 4:34; Jn 6:69), the Holy One of Israel (Ps 71:22; 78:41), who judges all people in righteousness (Heb 12:23). He is the Light of the world but not comprehended by the world (Jn 1:15; 8:12). He exposes evil (Eph 5:11).

In the preaching of God’s eternal Word, the Holy Spirit proclaims judgment on the unrepentant masses of humanity (Jer 1:16; Rev 18:20). He also saves God’s people through the same Gospel message, which declares the excellencies of Christ Jesus, our Lord (1 Pet 2:9).

Some of those who hear the Word of God preached, do repent and believe the message because of God’s grace granting them faith (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Eph 2:8–9). These no longer walk as the perverse, in the futility of their minds (Eph 4:17). Their deceived hearts, wicked and engaged in all types of evil (Jer 17:9), have been transplanted with hearts for God (Ezek 36:26). Their ambition now is to please God (2 Cor 5:9), which is impossible without faith (Heb 11:6). With a faith that has come by hearing God’s Word (Rom 10:17), the believer learns that he has been shown mercy (Rom 9:15), by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 9:16). The Bible calls these people “vessels of mercy prepared for glory” (Rom 9:23).

Christians must be warned that although they now have peace with God (Rom 5:1), their gracious conversion by the Holy Spirit puts them into the ire of unregenerate, unbelievers (Jn 15:18–25). The wicked have a very long history of persecuting the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are blessed for having been insulted, slandered, and persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Mt 5:10–11).

In the same manner as Noah’s family, Lot’s family, the nation of Israel, God’s beloved are being saved from their own perverse generations (Acts 2:40). In this, there is no new thing under the sun (Eccl 1:9).

Christian, you have been chosen (Rom 11:5; Eph 1:4–5); you have been redeemed (Ex 15:3; Gal 3:13; 4:5; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18); you have been made alive to God, in Christ, by His Spirit (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13); you have put off the old man and put on Christ (Eph 4:22; Col 3:9); you have been made adequate as a servant of the Lord (2 Cor 3:5–6); you have a hope and future (Jer 29:11; 31:17); you have an inheritance (Eph 1:11, 14, 18; 5:5); you have a Savior (Titus 1:3–4; 2:13; 3:6), who will resurrect your body of death (Jn 5:28–29), when He returns in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1; Rev 19:11–21; 20:11).

Christian, in short, you have been saved (Titus 3:5); you are being saved; and you will be saved from this perverse generation, by His doing (1 Cor 1:30). This is your salvation…live it. Glory in it. Preach it.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

July 17, 2022