What to Do When the World Runs Toward a Cliff

C.S. Lewis and W.C. Field were influencers in the early to mid 20th century. They shared some interesting traits although they came from different world views. Both were commonly referred to by the first two initials in their first name, then their last name.

They both were masters of the quip. They could pack more meaning and imagery in a one or two liner than some authors would get in a book.

C.S. Lewis was an apologist for the Christian faith. W.C. Fields didn’t seem like the type who would apologize for much of anything.

W.C. Field’s quips can be a bit colorful. In his day, they might have been rated (R). However, in today’s promiscuous culture, they would barely garner a PG rating, Here’s one you may have heard. ‘Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream’.

C..S Lewis quips are rated ‘G’ for God. Lewis took the idea of going against the current of a river and put the idea of nonconformity on a hill.

When the whole world is running toward a cliff, he who is running in the opposite  direction appears to have lost his mind.

C.S. Lewis

Don’t be a CINO

Lewis’ words couldn’t be more meaningful and timely than it is today. Followers of Jesus are being distanced from the culture like a female loosing to a big man on the women’s swim team. Yet CINO’s (Christian in name only) are running off the cliff with the herd.

As shooting wars rage in Ukraine and other parts of the world, we find ourselves in the heat of a culture war in America. It is a multi-front war. Battles are raging over deeply held beliefs. Protecting the life of the unborn is, in my estimation, the front line. But even after getting babies safely into the world, we need to protect them from harmful ideologies as they grow. Matthew 18:6 states, …whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

LGB+++++? activists are aggressively targeting the youngest of children by teaching sex (mis)education in schools. They keep their foot on the accelerator by stoking gender confusion in the youth and promoting sex change, i.e., mutilation. Add to that men in women’s sports and locker rooms, political and racial divide and a host of other issues and you have a powder keg ready to explode on anyone who opposes the agenda. Clearly, we are at the end of time according to prophecies in the Bible. So what should we, the followers of Jesus, do?

What to Do While the World is Running Toward the Cliff

1. Still yourself. Before you engage in the battle, engage with God. Spend time with Him. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
2. Strengthen the brethren: We are in a battle, as the next section illustrates. Many believers are getting weary. Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ. Now Judas (not Iscariot) and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. Acts 15:32
3. Stand for Righteousness. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:1-19
4. Avoid the cliff but not the ‘clifftons’. While we run away from the cliff (world system), let’s not run away from the ‘clifftons’ (those who need Jesus). Let’s love them as Jesus does. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 1:16 Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (person). Mark 16:15

Conclusion

Philippians 3:7-8 states, But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.