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"The Peril Of Troglomorphism"
Message
summary:
Moral
troglomorphism
is the
inevitable
regressive
adaptation to
living in the
constant
darkness of a
sin-filled
world
characterized
by features
such as loss
of sensitivity
to sin and
progressive
spiritual
blindness.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“So I tell
you this, and
insist on it
in the Lord,
that you must
no longer live
as the
Gentiles do,
in the
futility of
their
thinking. They
are darkened
in their
understanding
and separated
from the life
of God because
of the
ignorance that
is in them due
to the
hardening of
their hearts.
Having lost
all
sensitivity,
they have
given
themselves
over to
sensuality so
as to indulge
in every kind
of impurity”
(Ephesians
4:17-19).
The last
several days
we were in
Wellsboro, PA
in the far
north central
part of the
state oohing
and ahhing the
variety of
fall colors in
the foliage as
we drove,
walked, and
rode our
bikes. It's
our favorite
northern tier
town and a
great base for
riding our
bikes on the
Pine Creek
Rail Trail
through
Pennsylvania's
grand canyon.
On
the way back
home yesterday
we did some
wandering
using back
roads.
JRR Tolkien
has a poem
with the
words, "Not
all those who
wander are
lost". We
drove through
remote parts
of the state
including the
scenic
Nippenose
Valley, a
place that
likely few
have ever
been,
including
native Pennsylvanians.
It's a small,
enclosed bowl
shaped valley
roughly 7
miles long by
2 miles wide
surrounded by
mountains that
require
climbing a
road over a
long ridge to
get into and
out of. (see
here on Google
map)
When
I travel I
often study
where I have
been when I'm
back home and
I learned an
interesting
aspect about
this valley.
The following
two paragraphs
are a bit
scientific but
prompts a
spiritual
lesson for our
message today.
Biologists
discovered a
new species of
fish in a cave
in this
valley, a type
of
troglomorphic
sculpin. Well,
I can't speak
for our
readers but
troglomorphic
sculpin is not
a name I
normally use
so I had to
look it up.
Sculpin is a
type of fish,
but it’s
actually the
word,
troglomorphic,
that prompts
today’s
spiritual
lesson.“Troglomorphic is the morphological adaptation of an organism to living in the constant darkness of caves, characterized by features such as loss of pigment, reduced eyesight or blindness, and frequently with attenuated bodies and/or appendages.”
Two
lines in this
description
jumped out at
me: “living in
the constant
darkness” and
“reduced
eyesight or
blindness”.
That got me
thinking
Biblically of
a parallel in
the spiritual
realm. Moral
troglomorphism
is the
inevitable
regressive
adaptation to
living in the
constant
darkness of a
sin-filled
world
characterized
by features
such as loss
of sensitivity
to sin and
progressive
spiritual
blindness.
Today let's
consider an
easily
observable
truth
regarding
moral
troglomorphism;
the grave
consequence of
adapting to
darkness to
the point that
one becomes
increasing
morally blind.
Spiritual
blindness is a
natural
condition of
the human race
before
redemption as
a result of
the fall but
it seems in
our age that
moral
blindness is
rapidly
increasing. In
fact it seems
to us the
state religion
increasingly
seeks to
diminish the
light of
Biblical truth
and force
people into
this
blindness.
Concurrent
with this we
see more and
more policies
incentivizing
sin and
irresponsibility
as well as
policies
essentially
punishing
decency and
responsibility.*
Today's text
describes this
condition of
moral
troglomorphism.
Paul writes to
the Ephesian
believers and
all of us
through the
inspired
Scriptures: “So
I tell you
this, and
insist on it
in the Lord,
that you must
no longer live
as the
Gentiles do,
in the
futility of
their
thinking."
Telling and
insisting (in
the Lord),
that's
compelling
preaching! The
Gentiles here
is an
expression for
the unredeemed
who live in "the
futility of
their
thinking".
What an
appropriate
expression to
describe the
unredeemed!
Consider that
today as we
observe the
utter
foolishness of
this world's
philosophies.
“They are
darkened in
their
understanding
and separated
from the life
of God because
of the
ignorance that
is in them due
to the
hardening of
their hearts".
Let's break
down this most
undesirable
description:
- Darkened in understanding
- Separated from the life of God
- Ignorant
- Hardened hearts
"Having
lost all
sensitivity,
they have
given
themselves
over to
sensuality.”
This verse
speaks to the
heart of moral
troglomorphism.
The human race
becomes
insensitive to
the
God-ordained
moral
restraints and
progresses
into greater
and greater
degrees of
sensuality "so
as to indulge
in every kind
of impurity".
Romans 1
speaks to this
as well,
especially the
phrase in
verse 30, "They
invent ways of
doing evil".
As we see this
increasing
moral
troglomorphism
in our age the
faithful must
ever refuse to
conform to the
pattern of
this world,
but be
transformed by
the renewing
of their mind
(Romans 12:2).
Let my yes be yes to you, oh, Lord
Let my no be no to things of this world
If I rise or fall, If I stand at all
I am leaning on Your everlasting arms
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, in the
darkness of
night the
light of
Christ
appeared
drawing people
near and far
to follow Him,
to receive
salvation,
then and now.
Though Christ
incarnate
appeared as a
light to the
nations, the
vast majority
are still
drawn to
darkness,
indifferent or
intolerant of
anything that
pertains to
Jesus and the
salvation He
provides. And,
tragically,
there are
those who once
walked in the
light who have
entered into
the caverns of
darkness and
taken on the
attitudes and
actions
consistent
with those who
walk in
darkness. We
don’t
understand
such thinking
since we who
once were
blind can now
see, we who
once were
bound are now
set free, but
we know they
have allowed
the enemy to
deceive them.
Thank You for
the freedom to
choose light
over darkness,
truth over
deception.
Lord, we
choose You to
live for You
now and for
all eternity
as day by day
our minds are
being
transformed
into Your
likeness!
Amen.
* As I
consider the
increase of
policies
incentivizing
sin and
irresponsibility
a verse came
to mind from
Romans 13:3
that has been
turned over on
its head.
"For rulers
hold no terror
for those who
do right, but
for those who
do wrong. Do
you want to be
free from fear
of the one in
authority?
Then do what
is right and
you will be
commended."
In our upside
down age in
many
situations
this is not
what we see.
Do what is
right and you
will be
penalized or
worse! But, as
believers, we
must still
choose to do
what is
biblically
right so that
we will
receive
commendation
from the
righteous
Judge and be
awarded a
crown of
righteousness.
A Bible word
study
examining
verses that
contained both
“light” and
“darkness”:
* “You, Lord,
are my lamp;
the Lord turns
my darkness
into light” (2
Samuel 22:29).
* “He reveals
the deep
things of
darkness and
brings utter
darkness into
the light”
(Job 12:22).
* “You, Lord,
keep my lamp
burning; my
God turns my
darkness into
light” (Psalm
18:28)
* “Woe to
those who call
evil good and
good evil, who
put darkness
for light and
light for
darkness, who
put bitter for
sweet and
sweet for
bitter”
(Isaiah 5:20).
* “The people
walking in
darkness have
seen a great
light; on
those living
in the land of
deep darkness
a light has
dawned”
(Isaiah 9:2).
(This was
quoted by
Jesus when He
began to
preach Matthew
4:12-17).
* “But if your
eyes are
unhealthy,
your whole
body will be
full of
darkness. If
then the light
within you is
darkness, how
great is that
darkness!”
(Matthew 6:23)
* “When Jesus
spoke again to
the people, He
said, “I am
the light of
the world.
Whoever
follows me
will never
walk in
darkness, but
will have the
light of life”
(John 8:12).
* “I have come
into the world
as a light, so
that no one
who believes
in me should
stay in
darkness”
(John 12:46).
* “I will
rescue you
from your own
people and
from the
Gentiles. I am
sending you to
them to open
their eyes and
turn them from
darkness to
light, and
from the power
of Satan to
God, so that
they may
receive
forgiveness of
sins and a
place among
those who are
sanctified by
faith in me”
(Acts
26:17,18).
* “The night
is nearly
over; the day
is almost
here. So let
us put aside
the deeds of
darkness and
put on the
armor of
light” (Romans
13:12).
* “Do not be
yoked together
with
unbelievers.
For what do
righteousness
and wickedness
have in
common? Or
what
fellowship can
light have
with
darkness?” (2
Corinthians
6:14).
* “For you
were once
darkness, but
now you are
light in the
Lord. Live as
children of
light”
(Ephesians
5:8).
* ‘You are all
children of
the light and
children of
the day. We do
not belong to
the night or
to the
darkness” (1
Thessalonians
5:5).
* “But you are
a chosen
people, a
royal
priesthood, a
holy nation,
God’s special
possession,
that you may
declare the
praises of Him
who called you
out of
darkness into
His wonderful
light” (1
Peter 2:9).
* “Yet I am
writing you a
new command;
its truth is
seen in Him
and in you,
because the
darkness is
passing and
the true light
is already
shining” (1
John 2:8).
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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