August 14, 2019 – Click here to listen
I tried watching a highly acclaimed movie on Netflix the other night and after just a few minutes turned it off in disgust. It was filled with profanity with the “F” word being used over and again. The lead actors and actresses were constantly drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes and literally a half dozen people were depicted as being violently killed by the” heroes” of the movie in just the first few minutes. Mind you I’m not a prude and during my early life I saw much of what happened in this movie play out live on the streets. I can personally attest it is not the glamorous lifestyle that it is portrayed to be by Hollywood, it is a nightmarish hell. And when someone is actually shot and killed it is a sickening traumatic event that will never be forgotten.
Does anyone other than me get the relationship of the evil influence that Hollywood has on primarily young people in our country. Is it too baffling to understand why young people are shooting up malls, schools, and nightclubs? How many people do you know that smoke cigarettes today, or drink heavily even in the morning, noon and night? Watch most any movie and it is as common as drinking a coca cola.
Hollywood under the influence of Satan does not depict life as being cherished; it is cheap. The Bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. I’m here to tell you the Holy Spirit is grieved, Jesus is grieved, and our Father God is grieved. Satan is deceiving many people and one of his primary tools is making us feel we are missing out on the good life if we don’t act as they do.
I’m an avid guitar player and Eric Clapton is one of my musical heroes. I have admired his ability to play and sing and have desired to play like him for many years. Unfortunately, I’m just a rank amateur and will never realize that dream. I watched a documentary of his life story the other night and it made me really sad. In spite of all the accolades for the tremendous music he has created his life has been a living hell. He was horribly addicted to heroin and a total alcoholic, he tried to steal his best friend’s, (George Harrison,) wife with some success, and suffered tragedies as few will ever suffer.
Relatively few people know about his inner demons and his public image, (that he is simply one of the best guitar players ever,) seems to be all that is known about him. When watching him play, seeing his tremendous wealth, and the beautiful women flock to him, many are inclined to fantasize about how that could be me. The deception of Satan.
Conversely the image of God is often of a stern judge ready to strike us down if we get one foot over the line, and Christians as being a bunch of dork hypocrites instead of a God of love is the one portrayed by the world. The deception of Satan.
God is pure love and since we cannot get anything but fake news from this world that is ruled by demonic forces, take a look at what is around us in His creation. Look at the heavens, the oceans, the mountains, God’s creatures both large and small. Don’t be deceived my friends. God’s way is the only way! The glorious way! Maybe this video will help:
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.