Posted May 12, 2005
The United Kingdom's recent election brings some new faces to the political scene. They must tackle the challenges of running our country's infrastructure, of determining its role as a player on the world stage and of setting our tax levels that affect how much money is left in our pocketbooks. Their policies will impact our economy and affect our jobs, investment portfolios and pensions.
Over the last few decades we here in the UK have been spending more than we have. Those who do behave responsibly end up paying for those who don't.
Our health care expenditures are an example. Although our citizens place heavy demands on public and private health services, most do little to improve their nutrition or diet, or to take regular exercise. From pre-teens to senior citizens, previously unaffected age groups now overindulge in alcohol and 'junk' food. Drug addiction is increasing. Obesity, smoking, 'recreational' drugs and the excessive use of alcohol are threatening to become the spectre kindled in the Victorian era by poor sanitation and disease.
But government directives alone can't solve our lack of self-control that escalates problems such as our health crisis. The truth is that very few of us are ready to be held accountable for, or face the consequences of, our own contributions to such problems, even when aware that they and other social evils are fueled partly by our own lack of self-discipline and ineffective relationships. Such challenges are not limited to the UK. Governments around the world grapple with the negative effects of their own economic and social problems.
Yet governments, educational institutions and religion have all been unable to curb the escalating violence, the decline in moral standards or the cancer of unscrupulous ambition. It seems that no one has a framework for improving the human psyche.
Reflecting in 1945 on the effects of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur observed: "We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at the door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature, and all material and cultural developments of the past 2,000 years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh" (emphasis added throughout). While we would like to think that human nature has improved over the past 60 years, conditions today show that humanity still faces the same difficult problem we have always faced—the inability to discipline ourselves.
But there is hope for those willing to receive the spiritual 'heart transplant' that the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. calls 'conversion.' To start of that change we must see and acknowledge that each of us has been part of—a contributor to—a way of life or social structure that is becoming increasingly hostile to God.
Be honest with yourself. What standards of good conduct do you compromise? If you desperately want a promotion at work—along with better pay, more benefits and a leap in status—are you willing to do almost anything to get it?
The truth is, we all fall short of God's righteous standards (Romans 3:23). This we do "... because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so" (Romans 8:7, NASB).
How may we overcome personal flaws such as overspending, lack of self-control or criminal habits? The answer is only by receiving a spiritual 'heart transplant!'
God is able to change us, to create in us a new heart or new way thinking. With that change of heart we then will have the ability to produce a different society based on better principles.
Just think, what would it be like to live in a righteous society where everyone took responsibility for his own actions? What if we always had a caring frame of mind towards others and followed time-tested values and standards guaranteed to create self-government? What a stark contrast to the self-indulgent lifestyle promoted by our consumer society now.
"My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago, (John 18:36). When He returns as King of kings His 'new' government will redefine society over all the earth. Everyone will see the results of God's law functioning in people's hearts and minds. Each person will learn how to govern and moderate his own life.
