"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise.
We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
C.S. Lewis:
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
No One Rises for the Old Lady Anymore
This morning, I came across something that triggered a cascade of thoughts and connections. I’ll share more about that reading later.
In many respects, we seem to have forgotten what it means to be human. How did we arrive at this point? The explanation is both complex and straightforward. First came the Enlightenment, followed by the Industrial Revolution. Meanwhile, materialism and a naturalistic worldview took hold, glorifying the notion of the autonomous "I."
When I was young, it was unthinkable for an elderly person to stand on a train while younger people sat. That inherent sense of decency has eroded over time.
It doesn't take long for people in such an environment to dismiss the idea of a creator, which, though irrational, paves the way for a life free from divine accountability—at least in this life.
Yet, even as we dismantle every barrier to freedom, we behave as though we inhabit a planet designed with wisdom. Consider objective morality. If someone cuts in line at the supermarket, our instinct is to react vehemently. We might even recount the incident later, expressing outrage over the perceived injustice.
Or consider another scenario: you take an exam, confident in your performance, yet the teacher awards you only 5%. Outraged, you challenge the grade, only to hear, "I don't like you, so I marked you down." Anywhere in the world, this would be seen as an injustice—not because we decree it, but because we possess an innate sense of right and wrong.
Thus, through life, like trains on parallel tracks, runs a dual awareness: a sense of justice and a superficial belief in the absence of God.
Now, let us consider the consequences of this dichotomy. The Bible documents several eras similar to our own. This morning, as I read Isaiah 9, verses 17 and 18 struck a chord:
“Even now the Lord takes no joy in a single one, not even the young.
Mercy has run out for even those without power— the widows and orphans.
For every single person is at fault and behaves badly.
No one thinks or acts as God would have them do.
Every mouth utters foolishness like a wildfire, out of control.”
(The Voice Bible).
These sobering words, penned eight centuries before the birth of Christ, remind us that throughout history, humanity has often descended to debased levels—and God has responded.
Scripture taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.