The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
Planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
Proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no
wickedness in him. —Psalm 92:12-15 NIV
Pause for a moment, before you read the following lines. Think of the most beautiful person you know. Do you have someone in mind?
Now, continue to read. If you are like most people who really think about it, you realized that beauty is more than physical appearance. You probably thought of someone who is beautiful, not so much for what they look like, but for who they are—what they do—what they stand for.
Still, we wonder, “How much money is spent each year by men and women alike in an effort to spruce themselves up—to make themselves beautiful?” The figure would likely to be staggering. It would probably dwarf the amount spent by the Christian community each year to care for the needy or share the Good News. It appears that people, generally speaking, want to be beautiful! Sadly, however, it seems that many do not understand the nature of real beauty.
What is more beautiful than a young child happily singing a spiritual song learned from a godly Bible class teacher? What is more beautiful than a family sitting down together for a meal and to talk about their day? What is more beautiful than teenagers living godly lives, in spite of the fact that pressure from peers to do otherwise is incredible? What is more beautiful than a cup of cool water given in the name of Jesus? What is more beautiful than a hug around the neck or pat on the back, which is given to encourage a brother or sister in Christ? What is more beautiful than a family of Christians working together to serve those with special needs in their community? What is more beautiful than forgiveness extended, instead of carrying a grudge? What is more beautiful than the feet of those who bring good news?
You see, there is a type of beauty that cannot be seen in a vanity mirror or through a camera lens. There is beauty that transcends even the most picturesque mountain scene imaginable. There is a kind of beauty that will endure when all other beauty has faded. It is real beauty! This beauty is not painted on the surface. Instead, it is the beauty of a life being lived in harmony with the will of God. It is the beautiful fruit of righteousness, which is produced by those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. It is beauty from within!
© Bill Williams
2013.02.16
![64200: Everyone"s Guide to Hebrews](http://ag.christianbook.com/g/thumbnail/6/64200t.gif "64200:
Everyone"s Guide to Hebrews")
A Loss of Civic Virtue
While my main mission in life is not the preservation of the American way of life, I am grateful for the nation of my birth. Since it is likely to be the place where my children and my children’s children will reside during their earthly sojourn, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the course our nation is on. I do believe that we have a rich spiritual heritage that is under attack from without. Yet, my concerns do not rise primarily from this reality. They emanate from what appears to be a generalized erosion of the morals and values upon which our nation was founded and upon which it has been able to weather many storms.
This has caused me to think again about something that I’ve often pondered in the past. Many have wondered about and researched this question. Perhaps you’ve reflected on it as well. Why did the Roman Empire Fall? For many years I believed the answer to this question was universally agreed upon. According to Edward Gibbon, a man who is known in some circles as the first modern historian, the empire was conquered by barbarian invaders because of a loss of civic virtue amongst the general citizenry. This broad, umbrella statement probably covers the truth. So, I’ll not argue the point.
There is, however, good reason to point out that, according to one source, there have been more than 200 theories advanced in an attempt to explain the fall of the Roman Empire. A cursory reading of the history causes me to believe that Gibbon’s view as articulated in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is, for the most part, the best assessment. Still, the fact that so many different ideas about the empire’s fall have circulated in my view underscores the complexity of discussions of this nature.
While there is much to be said regarding each of the points of observation that follow, I’ll reserve comment for now. Perhaps I’ll come back to these and elaborate on them in the future. But, my reason from bringing them up is to ask whether readers agree or disagree that there is a loss of civic virtue amongst the citizenry of the U.S.A. It is my sense that this is the case. In this regard I’ve listed five areas in which this cultural decline is most evident. What do you think of the list which follows?
1. The DEVALUATION OF LIFE as exhibited in the number of abortions; the continued efforts to legalize physician assisted suicide; the glorification of violence in virtually every form of mass media; and the number of murders committed each year.
2. The DEIFICATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL as exhibited in concerted efforts on the parts of many to sanitized public expressions of faith in a Creator God and Sovereign Lord who has anything to say about how we conduct our daily lives.
3. The DETERIORATION SOCIAL MORES as exhibited in the constant reports of corporate and political corruption; the high numbers of property crimes, including theft of intellectual property; and the general decline of civility in the way people interact on a day-to-day basis.
4. The DECONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL STRUCTURES as exhibited in the continued efforts to reshape our thinking marriage; family and sexuality, which necessitates the removal of “old” structures which “conflict” with the “new” structures and “confuse” emerging generations.
5. The DESENSITIZATION OF SOCIETY TO SUFFERING AND INJUSTICE as exhibited in an apparent willingness to overlook entire people groups and population centers that are in need as a result of mistreatment and/or abuse simply because we have seen so much of this that we are becoming convinced that nothing is ever going to change.
Well, you might not agree with my assessments, particularly the explications which follow each of these points. I’m really interested in knowing what you think, though. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings. If what you think steps on my toes, it’s probably because they need stepping on. My real desire in opening this conversation is to somehow touch the hearts of many so that we might help one another become part of the solution.
In my view, we need a seed change in the collective thought of our nation. This, I believe, is essential so that might live peaceful and quiet lives, while being about our Father’s business of lovingly sharing God’s truth with those who need to learn of the spiritual healing power of His goodness and grace as exhibited in the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(c) Bill Williams
2009.03.21
Posted in Christian Living, Social Commentary.
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By Bill Williams – February 12, 2013