The Modern Dark Ages

The time of the tenth and eleventh century is typically referred to in history as the “dark ages”. The Roman Empire had collapsed and without a central power, lawlessness reigned. Barbarians invaded countries in Europe unchecked and the Feudal system of government came into being. Evil seemed to follow people everywhere.

Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans about sexual impurity, twisting the Word of God to suit their ideas, people full of murderous desires, evil intentions, greed, and depravity. The words used then can certainly be used now to describe the current state of the world.

Religious freedoms are under fire. People murder people everyday. Homosexuality is accepted in society. The greed of companies is seen in headlines. The President of the United States continues to spit in God's face. Everything that Paul described is going on right now.

I think we are going through the modern dark ages.

In the Old Testament, Habakkuk wondered where God was in terrible times. “How long, Lord, must I cry for help, but You do not listen?” it's very easy for us to shout the same thing. And it's easy to say God just doesn't care. I've known some that have doubted God's very existence, based solely on the shape the world is in. In their eyes, if there was a compassionate God, He would never let all the bad things happen.

Habakkuk complains of the same things we do today: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do evil people prosper? Why is justice so perverted?

One of the worst travesties is people twisting the Bible to fit their own desires. I actually read about some group claiming to be Christians that tried to say God's Word condones homosexuality. I pointed out how wrong they were to do this in an email. I still haven't heard back from them and I probably won't.

The Lord told Habakkuk to write his book, because when the Lord answers him, we see that the Lord hasn't forgotten us. The word “woe” is used over and over again to describe the feeling of those that defy God. The Lord then says, “The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”

Maybe that's God saying, “I got this.” The Mill of the Lord may grind slow, but it DOES grind. He hears our cries. He knows our pain and frustrations. Every doer of inequity is hated by God. (Psalm 5:5)

Perhaps we as Christians should live by the three “r's”: Remember God's Glory. Rejoice in God's Goodness. And most in important, rely on God's Grace.

He will never leave us, nor forsake us.