The World Has Changed

Daniel 3:1-2

Introduction: Daniel and the three Hebrew young men had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon after the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar. Their surroundings had been changed so much that they were now strangers to everything around them. New clothes, new food, new culture, and now a new religion was about to be forced upon them.

In the twentieth century, America wasn’t invaded by a foreign enemy. We were invaded by new-fashioned ideas and philosophies that transformed our national landscape. The foundations upon which this country was built have shifted to a precarious position.

A news reporter asked a pedestrian once, “Do you know what the two greatest problems in America are?” The man said, “I don’t know and I don’t care!” The reporter said, “Right on both counts!”

Erwin Lutzer wrote a piece several years ago entitled “The Myths That Could Destroy America.” Here they are:

• 1. The battle between truth and falsehood isn’t real.
• 2. Life began with blind chance.
• 3. We can have morality without religion.
• 4. Whatever is legal is moral.
• 5. Morality cannot be legislated.
• 6. The role of men and women is interchangeable.
• 7. A fetus is not human.
• 8. We can ignore totalitarian governments.
• 9. Pornography is a harmless adult pleasure.
• 10. The church should have no voice in government.

We have learned to live with these destructive agents. But maybe things will be different from this week on.

1. Before September 11, we knew how to dedicate children. We knew how to pray for them and what to say to their parents. I fear that many of the things that were said were so predictable, so routine, that they did not have much of an impact. But now, the horizon of the future has been so dramatically changed, that we must find our way once again, even in things we have learned to do so well.

2. Before September 11, we could come and go in a free society. We paid scant attention to the people around us, whether they had evil intent or could carry out terrible crimes against us. We bought and sold, built and planted, worked and played with a freedom that the world knew little of until the United States of America came into existence. Now, we are left with only the memories of the way it used to be.

3. They say that transportation, especially air travel, has changed forever. They say that the economy has changed. They say that even the world of sports has changed. I suppose it has. I don’t know how much of that matters. What does matter, though, is how we raise our children in a world where fear and terror grips our everyday life.

4. There are some things that must not change.

a. We cannot allow fear to monopolize our lives.

“God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love,…”

Ps 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

b. We cannot lose our faith and trust in God.

Ps 18:2-3 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 

c. We cannot lose our sense of mission to the world.

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel…”

5. There are some things that have needed to be changed for a long time.

a. Our relationship with people. (The tragedy has taught love…)

b. Our appreciation of freedom.

c. Our seriousness in serving God.

d. Our personal priority list.

e. Our state of personal preparedness.

6. What kind of world is it in which we will raise our children?

a. It probably will not get better in a spiritual sense.

b. The world that the parents create.

These age-old principles still work!

Prayer

Love

The Bible

Spiritual disciplines.