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“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

It’s so easy to look around at our culture and shake our heads in disbelief at the utter depravity, chaos, and decay. Although, we shouldn’t be too surprised, as there was ample corruption and wickedness throughout time and Christendom—see, for example, Romans 1:24-32. But today seems different, doesn’t it? Internet-driven pervasiveness. There is 24/7 news (and its ridiculously fast cycle of turnover to keep us not thinking about anything too long or deeply) and ubiquitous social media platforms, which allow us to see and know detailed happenings from around the globe—even though they have no value for our lives other than to distract and generate intense anxiety, angst, and anger. Oh yeah, our socials also let us scrutinize other people’s filtered lives (and faces) at nauseum, amping up the condemning hiss in our ears telling us how less-than our own lives and faces and bodies are.

Oh, friend, please hear me. As followers of Jesus Christ, transformed by grace through faith, we must see unsaved people in this fallen world for what they are: Lost and lied to. The god of this world—Satan—is the father of lies (John 8:44). He and his minions know their time is short. So, they are lying on every level of society, in every corner of the earth, convincing people to focus on self—their own satisfaction, comfort, fame. He knows that these paths only lead to destruction—that’s his point, purpose, and hope! From power-lusting world leaders serving as puppets of mass destruction, to the would-be-beautiful 62-year-old woman at the grocery store whose face is utterly deformed from countless “I-must-look-like-a-filter” injections-gone-wrong, to the teenager who is convinced that cutting off her breasts is the key to ok-ness, to the drug or alcohol or porn addict who is shackled to scratching an unattainable itch…it’s all the same. See, the enemy of your soul doesn’t care how he gets you. He’ll use whatever lie will work to bait your hook. And his tackle box is overflowing with all kinds of colorful and deadly lures these days.

As believers, we worship weekly (or more), singing praise to the God who saved us and listening (hopefully) to a gospel-centered message. We recall with gratitude how we were pulled from the pigsty into the arms of Jesus. And yes, we pray for the lost to be saved. But then we walk out of church and turn on the news or scroll Instagram to immediately get ticked off at leaders, news anchors, and “Karens” out there…and we somehow forget: They are lost! They are responding exactly as lost people would to the lies of the enemy! They are—just as we once were—the walking dead (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Oh, sweet friend, you and I must change our filter when looking around at the brokenness. We must recognize the poisonous lies for what they are and remember from whom they originate. And we must replace our own responsive judgments, anger, and contempt with grace, mercy, and love. Most importantly, we must share the Truth—the Good News of the gospel. The only way to be truly satisfied and at peace is to surrender all to Jesus Christ—He is the Truth. Someone once broke through the lies we were believing and living “by giving us reason for their hope” (1 Peter 3:15). So, how can we now stand in judgment of those who haven’t yet heard? How can we leave them in their pigsty?

“Lord, forgive me for judging the lostness and brokenness of this world as if I were never lost and broken. May I truly view others through the grace of my salvation and Your desire for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). May I be the conduit of Your Truth.”
 For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life