Unpopular

In today’s culture your beliefs, opinions, and interests can quickly become unpopular. We live in a society that is constantly looking for something new and innovative. A new and unique way to do things. Out with the old, in with the new. We spend our lives chasing. Constantly seeking what we don’t have. Feeling if we could just work a little more, that new TV could be mine. If we work a little more, we can have a larger home or a new car. Maybe just a few more months of extra hours and we can afford a new phone, a new wardrobe, a new kitchen remodel, a new bathroom, finish the basement. The neighbors did it. Next thing we know, 20 years have passed. Hours and hours have been spent working, all the great new items are old and unpopular, and now your job feels the same about you.

Obsession with having all things new is infiltrating every area of life. It is dangerous; having lasting impact on lives. If it is not new, it is unpopular. If it is unpopular, it needs to be changed or modernized. The Bible has not escaped this trend. The Bible has become unpopular, with many feeling it is outdated and does not apply to modern life in current form. The need to modernize or altar meaning of Scripture to fit into today’s society is increasing.

“The Word of the Lord endures forever. And this Word is the Gospel that was proclaimed to you” (1 Peter 1:25). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35). God foresaw how over time His Word would be viewed as outdated. Clearly the Word endures forever, the Word is God-breathed Gospel, and these Words will never pass away. Never. “For the Word of God is living and active” (Heb. 4:12).

“It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). We are tempted by new modern things. New ideas. In this passage, Jesus is responding to Satan’s attempt to lure Him into being His own provider, outside of God. Changing or altering the Bible is Satan tempting us. Let’s change the Bible to fit our current culture. God didn’t understand when Scripture was written the needs we have now. Lets modernize God’s Word. It is unpopular in current form. The notion is complete blasphemy. We are to live “on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The Apostle John tell us we are to walk as Christ walked. We find this in God-breathed Scripture. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Satan tempts us to live apart from God, create our own way, follow the popular path. Jesus assures us the only way is the same now and forever. Stop chasing.