Sticker Shock and Threats to the American Quality of Life

As I sat in the barber shop awaiting a haircut yesterday afternoon I couldn't help but sit right next to the television as it was blaring all of it's wonderful news. There wasn't many other places to sit as the 5 o'clock rush had just swarmed Dave's barber shop. As I listened to the news coming out of the speaker I was not surprised at the hypocrisy occurring before my very eyes. In one segment they were going on about the exposure young women are experiencing through media. The target was the sexual agenda that many of the "pop" tart icons are promoting and the saturation in all things "poppy" it has had.

The segment was necessary and in accordance to what I would believe to be right, but scattered all throughout the segments were the very images that the report was saying were wrong. It's as if they made every single attempt to visually portray the examples before our very eyes. Needless to say, I think I had to divert my attention many times to avoid the grotesque portrayals the news was telling me were wrong. It's amazing, the 5 o'clock news was worse than the filthy display racks in convenience stores.

Then there was the exaltation of late comedian George Carlin. A brief tribute and elevation of his wonderful accomplishments warranted at least a 5 minute segment in prime time viewing. What was not funny about this late comedians life was that he had an utter disdain and hatred for God that gave testimony of where his eternal state lay prior to his death. I pray he may have had reconciliation before his heart beat it's last. The newscaster found irony in the pioneer of pushing the limits of filthy language on television. He also promoted the irony that Mr. Carlin grew up a Catholic.

Is it any wonder why our culture elevates these things? Is it amazing that after all the debauchery is thoroughly paraded on the television that a segment displaying concern over food prices in America is aired? Should one go further and state that it's a complete display of ignorance when all this is done in the name of informing the public and then straightening our faces, sobering our tones, and discussing the severity of our countries loss through the recent flooding that has devastated many food supplies?

I guess I cannot understand how our concerns of how much we will be paying for pork and corn in a year weigh heavier than the concern that should be had for the moral and ethical conditions of our countries population. Let alone the fact that we are now hurrying to clip coupons while other countries inhabitants go without meals for an entire family, and some for days without food at all. Coupons? For real?

What it boils down to is the state we all will have before the Lord on the final day. Whether we are standing in judgment as Americans or Africans will not matter. The only thing that will matter is if we have repented of our sins. Whether we have received forgiveness for our lying, stealing, adultery, lusting, coveting, rebellion toward God, and blasphemy will depend on our relationship with Jesus. If we have not trusted in Him for the forgiveness of our sins and become made new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17) we will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15) and never see the face of our Lord.