What God sees today…

 

Now that prom season is over for most schools I wanted to take a minute and share a few thoughts. It is my hope that after reading this you will be encouraged to be holy like God is holy.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-after all, it is what everyone else was doing.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because older members in the church complimented prom pictures.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because, quite frankly, I wasn’t striving to be more holy.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because I assumed lust was just a part of growing up.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because I wasn’t concerned with immodesty.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because drinking alcohol was not viewed as reckless as other drugs.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because I was not thinking about things through the eyes of my future spouse.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because I was primarily living for myself.

When I was young I didn’t see a problem with the prom…

-because I didn’t fear God.

But what did God see back then? I didn’t give enough thought to what God saw when He looked at those prom pictures. In fact, I’m not sure I ever stopped to look at what was going on through His eyes.

Now that I’m older I spend a lot of time evaluating how I can be more holy, and I realize that what God sees today has not changed from when I was young. His views on purity, holiness, and righteousness have not varied with the years. Here are some questions to consider about what God sees today when He sees those prom pictures on Facebook.

Does God see parents who do not realize Satan has waged war on their children’s soul?

Does God see parents who don’t believe worldliness is a problem in their home?

Does God see parents who are teaching their children a poor lesson about pleasure on earth?

Does God see parents who have not shared with their children the costs of following Christ?

Does God see parents who are willing to gamble on the purity of their children for a night of fun?

Does God see parents who are willing to purchase immodest dresses and justify it, because after all, it is the prom?

Does God see parents who give no thought to the fact that this prom date is not their child’s husband or wife—and yet, the parents are promoting a relationship outside of marriage?

Does God see young people who have conformed rather than be transformed?

Does God see young people who fear not attending prom more than they fear the Him?

Does God see young people who attend youth rallies and devotionals, but then don’t walk the walk?

Does God see young people who are weak spiritually?

Does God see young people who desire to be in a lascivious environment?

Does God see young people who have no problem twerking or grinding on Saturday night, and then taking the Lord’s supper Sunday morning?

Does God see young people who will one day wish they had not gone so far with their date?

Does God see young people who will one day wish they could erase pictures from the internet?

Does God see grandparents and older Christians who reinforce this behavior by “liking” or posting positive comments under pictures?

Does God see grandparents and older Christians who believe this is a right of passage—after all, they did it?

Does God see grandparents and older Christians who see an immodestly dressed young lady and still make positive comments about her dress?

Does God see grandparents and older Christians who are comfortable with their young people having worldly values?

My wife and I are constantly evaluating young people as possible candidates for marriage with our children, and these pictures remind me that many who wear the name Christian do not possess the same values that we are trying to instill in our children—and therefore are not suitable candidates for marriage. And that makes me sad. One wonders if God is not also sad? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes pictures say more than that…

By Brad Harrub, Ph.D.