We cannot love both the world and the Father at the same time. If our mind is absorbed with television shows, movies, unbalanced music, games, and amusement parks then we will have no desire to study God’s word. If we love our Bibles and communion with God then the things mentioned above will have no attraction for us. Unfortunately, many seem satisfied pretending to be God’s children while actually giving their hearts to the world.

If we look carefully at history, we will find that the professed children of God are almost always a few steps behind the world headed in the same direction. It was not too long ago that drinking, smoking, and playing cards were condemned by Christians as great social evils. Now they are considered normal. A rock music few years back was looked upon by Christians as evil and demonic. And now in popular churches you’ll find the same music blasting supposedly for God’s glory. A hundred years ago modesty and Christianity went hand in hand, but now it is common to see shorts, mini-skirts, and tank tops on platforms of Christian churches.

The world is becoming so wicked that we often seem desensitized and cannot discern between right and wrong.

Today you can think to be a Christian and no one could know unless you told them. We will not be judged by what other Christians think, by what the church teaches, or by what we think to be right or wrong. We will be judged by God’s word. And we are told by Him in James “that the friendship of the world is enmity with God” and that “a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (4:4)

So what if a man gains the delights of “the whole world, and [loses] his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Is your soul worth a television show? Is it worth a sports car, a hit song, or a little alcohol?

Has God placed us in this world so that we could sit around and be entertained? Why did He place Adam and Eve in a garden instead of in front of a television? Was God forgetting that they might get bored? Instead of a fruit tree, should God have made the tree of life a game?

Children without toys don’t get bored in third world countries. They play with rocks, sticks, bugs; they dance, sing, and make up their own little games. They seem like the happiest children in all the world, but in America and similar nations, it seems that the young people are the most dissatisfied. Without the latest gadget or newest clothes, they think that life becomes dull. Do you think the problem is really the lack of things? If so, take a look into the life of those movie stars that are so often idolized. Do you see happiness and satisfaction? Most of the time they live a very troubled life.

What is the reason for unhappiness? Happiness and satisfaction do not come knocking on the selfish heart’s door. It is only by giving and seeking to help others that we feel happy and satisfied in life. Peace and joy only come from a connection with God and daily communion with Him. So what is Satan’s plan to get us so distracted and involved in this world that we cannot hear or discern God speaking to us? It is to bring every amusement and excitement to fill our day that we will have no time for God and no desire for spiritual things.

If something takes our mind and our time away from God’s word and communion with Him, then unless it is necessary for life we would do well to discard it. Why? Dear friend, we are living in dangerous times. “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

How much do we love the truth? If we do not love it more than our own life, then at last we will be deceived. If we really do love the truth, then we will know it and follow its principles. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14) Whose friend have we become? The Bible is clear: We cannot be both the friend of God and of the world.

What is our purpose here in this world? Are we not here to stand holding high the banner of truth and to help others out of the pit of sin?

Are we letting the standards trail in the dust? Whose side are we really on? These are questions to ponder. God is looking for standard-bearers, true soldiers of Jesus Christ, who will carry this truth to the gates of the New Jerusalem.

God is now dropping destruction in limited measure upon this generation, but the great cup of His wrath has been tipped and no human hand can stop it from spilling. Though we may wish to delay the coming judgments of God, we cannot and it would not be wise to act as though we had another generation in which to live and please ourselves.

Dear youth, now is not the time to be conformed to this world. But rather to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Years ago musicians noticed that all errand boys in one part of London whistled out of tune. There was much discussion of the matter until it was finally concluded that the cause was the Westminster bells. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they had gone slightly off pitch. The errand boys, who busily went about their day under the chiming of the bells, had copied the pitch unconsciously and were whistling out of tune.

We are living in a discordant world, a world where no good standard rings true. In many things it is easy for us to pick up unconsciously the tune or attitudes of this world. Sad to say, Christians as a whole are whistling to the tune of this world. What about us who claim to be God’s standard-bearers?

It is time we as Christians stop comparing ourselves to the world and thinking how we are more righteous than they. God does not compare His people to the standard of this world but to the heavenly standard. Satan is satisfied for us to follow the worldly-minded crowd, but far enough behind to feel ourselves more “restrained.” That way he can still control the heart.

So how will we know if we are in tune? It is the same as with any instrument to be tuned. A standard is used to check and adjust the pitch. God has given us His standard, but it is up to us to carefully check ourselves by this standard. God has made His standards clear for us, but we must apply the pitch pipes of God’s word to our life every day. It is all too easy to compare ourselves to others and feel secure that we are upholding God’s standard. We will not see our deficiency unless we can hear the true heavenly pitch and then adjust our life accordingly.

Is your life in tune? Are you planning on living forever to the glory of God? I hope so. The wonderful thing about our God is that even if we don’t feel like serving Him, or giving up our cherished amusements, He can change our heart. All we have to do is ask Him to remove from us the desire for our pet sins. He’ll give us strength for victory.

The rule of the kingdom of heaven is this: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Dear friend, heaven has warehouses full of blessings wrapped and ready for delivery. Why not ask Him?