The social world pulse presently calls for the pursuit of many, many things and the pressure to succeed in all of those prescribed efforts is intense...
For a time the enemy of our souls has been allowed to orchestrate a limited opposition against mankind in the world and has a certain amount of success where he's able to exploit human weakness. According to the relentless assault of advertisements in every form of venue humanly possible, mankind himself has made an incredible effort to assist his own enemy in his attempted conquest. We must be this, look like that, wear this, have that, live here, travel there, drive that, drink this, eat that,... possess... achieve... enjoy... do... love... ... ... idolize anything other than our Creator and Judge. And it obviously works or the drumbeat we're constantly subjected to would collapse under its own weight.
If the advertising didn't pay off, there'd be no point to advertising. But it does pay off, to more beneficiaries than one, and its tone in more recent years has changed in many cases from the simple presentation of attributes to the more direct and seductive appeal to vanity, pride and manifold lusts. Have you noticed? Some advertising actually says little if anything about the product, but instead focuses more intently on creating a vain lust for it... have you seen? Do you recognize it? It's working and part of the evidence is seen in the fact that many are in debt up to their nose because of it - they're now self committed slaves. And a generation is rising up with a sense of values that are in some cases lost and anything but Godly.
The appeal and appetite of the enemy is voracious, gobbling up the vanities and lusts of current, imperiled generations. We're at war with an enemy, yet we're giving him ammunition and voluntarily falling...
The real problem isn't advertising - it's the focus of our hearts and minds. That's the real battle ground where the enemy attempts to do his dirtiest work and slyly gain access. satan (< not a capitalization mistake) is a cunning, conniving dirt bag, but he's had thousands of years to get to know his enemy (us) and to perfect his art of attack against us. He's sly, seductive and carefully calculating and even the most mature follower of Christ isn't immune if his or her focus drifts even for a moment from where it belongs. On our own, we're nothing more than tasty unarmed prey ripe for the plucking and considerable gnawing. Of course through Jesus we can repent and recover, but the wounds the enemy leaves may be deep and take some time to heal.
Our enemy's sneakier and more deft than the world's best ever pick pocket, has more power of deception than a stadium full of snake oil salesmen... and a multitude of worldly men and women to help him spread his craft.
So our safety and security rests in our continual connection and devotion to Christ who's already handed "you know who" a resounding defeat in the big and final picture and left him frustrated and waiting for his final reward. But in the mean time he tries to taunt us, tempt us and make every effort to distract us from our intended life and purpose. He's a spoiler intent on dragging us with him and denying God as much of what He dearly loves as he can out of spite. Yet the Lord allows it for a time because it serves his purpose in determining between the wheat and the chaff - as we're tested to determine our choice and loyalty.
As for me, I'm not wealthy in world currency, but by the grace of God, I have what I need for today and if He's willing, beyond that. I'm famous most likely only in my Father's eyes and I'm an intimate associate of the King of Kings - so I'm more than ok and well satisfied with that. My home is no palace, but it keeps me warm, dry and secure and in that I count myself fortunate and blessed. I've been highly favored to share my life completely with the same trusted and precious daughter of God for nearly 40 years and in that I'm well satisfied and blessed. I don't take rash and foolish risks, but I'm safe, able and secured by His grace to continue to serve Him as He allows. I'm no longer youthful and well muscled, but by His grace this aging body has served me and my house well. I could go on, but I think you're getting the picture. Our Heavenly Father, He meets all my needs.
So recently and out of some mild curiosity I've taken an accounting to see how I'm measuring up to the worldliness of society that I'm seeing currently and it's advertised standards and I've come to the conclusion that by His grace and to my satisfaction ...
... I'm failing fabulously!!!
All our needs are met both in and by Him.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)
6 "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content."
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