“whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”
The third and fourth characteristics of the haters of the cross show other belief systems.
“and whose glory is in their shame”
Some people brag about their shame. Their shame is their glory. They obtain popularity by their own disgrace. To glory in shame is a pitiful view of life. People are proud that they are immoral. They do not mind parading their brazen, blatant sin before millions on national television programs. Homosexuals march in “coming out” parades.
“Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” (Eph. 4:18)
They do not blush anymore. Their sense of right and wrong blunts their view of God. They delight in distortion of life. Liberty becomes a panacea. They tolerate no restraint on their desires.
Lying is regarded today as a good business practice. Students deem cheating acceptable so long as it contributes to their graduation. The end justifies the means. It is alright to cheat, lie, and deceive, providing it is for a good cause.
Young anarchists run the streets of our nations. Children kill children. We teach them social graces but scorn directing their morals.
God created man in His image to reflect His glory. Man was designed to reflect the attributes of God. The cauterized soul obscures the reflected glory of God.
“who set their mind on earthly things”
This phrase is a summary of their orientation to life. The word “mind” conveys the idea of “attitude.” Their attitude toward life is a human viewpoint. They have a horizontal view of life rather than the perpendicular view of life (God’s view of life recorded in His Word). They look at life from the human viewpoint rather than the divine viewpoint. They embrace the standards of a world without God.
PRINCIPLE:
Human viewpoint always leads to the devaluation of eternal values.
APPLICATION:
Divine viewpoint always influences both perpendicular and horizontal values. The Word of God no longer stimulates a conscience dead in sin. Have you been out of fellowship so long that you no longer come under conviction of sin? Have you so embedded in the standards of this world that God is no longer real to you?
If you do not know Christ personally, where do you stand concerning the cross of Christ? On which side are you? Pro or con? For or against?
