Generations Unchained

Being unchained - loose from restrictive bonds and possible confining attachments might sound like a "good" thing and in certain applications which might seem appropriate for the use of those words, it might be. But mankind has proven repeatedly and seemingly endlessly, that for him, how we use freedom... can be a really bad thing.

We're witnessing the reward of generations largely taught to disregard and disrespect the platitudes of bygone eras. So many people are operating without the constraints of a moral code or the confining barriers of social etiquette and the results - the product of such unleashed and degenerate lifestyles focusing on self gratifying thought and freewheeling conduct are evident on such a large scale that the future, when thoughtfully considered and remaining unchanged, should be obvious and more than deeply concerning. The trend today appears to be toward a popular distancing from anything of the past and the history of hard learned lessons that have provided so much wisdom and guidance from the plethora of man's previous errors. It seems to this simple man to be a rush to accept ignorance rather than responsibility and the move toward utter, unexplainable, foolishness. It's accompanied by a popularly hailed trend toward self centered, screaming individualism and a drive to do what no one else would dare. But none of this is new... none of it. It's just sad, forgotten and neglected history once again repeating itself. These thoughts beg the question "Will mankind ever learn from repeatedly burning himself?".

"Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.  Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now." Ecclesiastes 1:8-11 (NLT)

History - It's a word that in the wealth of its content as applied to the history of mankind, holds the potential of almost immeasurable wisdom for the guidance of current and future generations to prosper in terms of meaningful, truly fulfilling and peaceful lives if heeded. But in current society it seems not only largely ignored, in some cases, it's inexplicably regarded with contempt. What we've learned from both our sufferings and our experience guided hopes for a greater future success in the past are seemingly cast aside in a headlong, anxious rush to suffer those consequences of mismanaged freedom once again while disregarding the lessons of the past and casting cares to the wind. 

There have been times when mankind has consulted his own history in a holistic effort to gain wisdom from pervious experiences and has made resulting laws for himself based on the desire to prevent the need to repeatedly suffer again from what he had already learned by the suffering and lawlessness. In the past, those laws of previous experience generally governed society in an effort to move toward a more peaceful and harmonic existence - one less conducive toward the pitfalls of previous misadventure that caused so much suffering, anger, chaos and loss. Man's laws and even his keeping of them have never been perfect, but there have been so many times when the lack of them would have created the opportunity for far greater suffering and chaos. Past governing, when undertaken with learned wisdom and righteous character has been an effort in progress toward the attempt to build a better future.

What we're witnessing at large today though is a society sick at it's core, one tossed on waves of its own selfishness, self interest, pride, arrogance and endless lusts. It's becoming a society largely unchained without an anchor and a house that no longer has a solid foundation to keep it stable - one with gaping cracks and crumbling footings. It's becoming a society willfully lost in a darkening forest without a compass to guide it back to safety. But for all of this there remains a perfect answer - a safe harbor, a solid foundation and a core strengthening antidote. To the horror of those who will not be bound and answer only to themselves, it's found in the wisdom of past platitudes, the history of mankind from his very beginning and from a source that existed even before man.

There's a set of rules that are perfect in their nature, are unfailing when faithfully applied and are a foundation to build on that cannot be shaken. There's peace for the heart to be found that is solid and unwavering, contentment for the soul that's not elusive but available to all, and an endless stream of proven wisdom that provides certain and sure guidance for success. But it runs counter to the popular unchained culture and provides an anchor that vanquishes the uncertainty of an unknown future. It's been hailed for millennia by those that have chained and given themselves to it in sincerity and by surrendered experience, they know that it's true. 

The popular phrases of today's society might tell us to stand up, stand out, just do it, and to follow our own heart, but what we're all really looking for in our current life quest is the answer that satisfies a need we were all created with. And since I mentioned it, do you really trust your own heart to find the answer that you're looking for?

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)

When humanistic society wears itself out from the punishing consequences of it's own foolishness, or when time simply runs out, it will be forced undeniably to realize that it's previous ideas about the purposes of this life and the freedom it was given were nothing but oft repeated error and uselessness. And that the cause and purpose of both life and freedom have been horrifically betrayed to accept nothing less than completely wasted lives and unnecessary, useless suffering... with a coming and far greater penalty earned in the effort..

The truth is that we were given great freedom, but have never truly been our own masters. We were created by God with an inherent need for relationship with Him and those seemingly confining rules that He's given us along the way have always been in mankind's perfect, best interest. And the guidance and wisdom that He provides are unfailingly profitable, but many in current society and many previous have not only scoffed at Him, but have prior and are now treating Him with contempt to their own unimaginable folly. Many are earning their own suffering and far greater for the future. But to individuals finding themselves willing to surrender to be bound to Him and the direction that He's given, He offers true freedom, peace and contentment. Society may choose it's ill fate in utter foolishness, but unchained society's fate doesn't have to be ours...

"Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."  Galatians 6:7-10 (NKJ)

Being unleashed - unbound isn't always in our best interest. We've proven that to our own detriment repeatedly. But there's a better way - a fulling way to live and that way is in true surrendered relationship - bound with many chains, to the very God who created us. It's His design and intention... His plan from the very beginning. But He'll recognize half-hearted or feigned commitment to relationship with Him and will respond as you might imagine. So if we want the true life we were intended for... we must be willing to be chained to Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."   Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

“This is what the LORD says—the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."   Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NLT)

You may not realize it, but it's what you've always wanted. It's what your soul was created to crave. Are we tired of ignoring the truth, the facts of our history and of the results of our continuing to do it our own way yet?...

I'll wait... He will too,.. but for a limited time.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8(NLT)