When I was a child I had an uncle whom I respected because he had been in World War II. He was of strong opinion, stern, and set in his own ways. And sadly, he had no claim or interest in being a Christian. He did not go to church, nor would he enter into conversations about the Bible with my parents who had the Bible as their central guide of most conversations. It was awkward for them and other members of the family when we gathered on special occasions. As time passed, he grew more and more harsh and distant from the rest of the family, and later in his life he was engaged in activities that brought sorrow to all of us. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:13 of the last days, “But evil men and imposters will grow from bad to worse.”

Have we considered that what we are not only affects us, but others surrounding us? This is true according to Scripture and has a direct relation to God’s judgment. God judged the world by its rejection of Him shown in progressive wickedness leading to the flood (Genesis 6-7). Prior to the flood, the account of Lamech given in Genesis 4 is revealing. Lamech was a great grandson several generations from Cain, the first man born, who also became the first murderer. The description of Lamech and his hostile pride is descriptive of what God will say later in Genesis 6 of what all mankind had become, “that every intent of man’s heart was only evil continually.” Several generations earlier, the Bible records a description of Lamech who had taken two wives. It states of him, Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice, you wives of Lamech, give heed to my speech, for I have killed a man for wounding (means offending) me; and a boy for striking me; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-seven fold” (Gen. 4:23-24). There are all manner of revealing issues related to this brief speech by Lamech. Foremost, we see that he was aware of his ancestor, Cain, and his sin and rejection of God’s way. He did not fear this, but foolishly sought to outdo Cain in his own rejection, and brags of his brutality while warning his wives not to cross him. This same attitude was progressing among mankind of which Lamech is a type. This attitude is related to the word “Nephilim” in Genesis 6:4. The word means “tyrant” or “bully.” Lamech was a tyrant, and so were those with the same wicked mind and behavior as Lamech. These tyrants would inter-marry with those who were carrying the name of God. These unbalanced unions did not result in children of godliness, but in descendants growing increasingly more vile on the earth with the same ungodly mindset that was exemplified by Lamech.

We are told in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be bound together with an unbeliever.” This is often used as a reminder that a believer should never marry an unbeliever. We can go further and say that a Christian should not engage in any cause or effort, especially in the name of God, with an unbeliever. Neither should we take the norms of the unbelieving society and bring them into our family or our church. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:6, “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.” The idea is that such close associations pollute and affect the more innocent side with corruption. This was the reasoning behind our Lord requiring Israel not to intermarry or associate with those in the promised land when He directed them to take it, and to also destroy them. The binding associations of the godly with the ungodly led to God’s judgment at the time of the flood, and the same is happening today. Many churches and Christians are seeking so hard to get along side-by-side with the evil world that these efforts make inroads into their thinking, into their families, and has slipped into the church. Our day is a day of progressing evil. It is as our Lord stated just as in the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Our society and world in these last days is so steeped in thinking contrary to the Lord and His will that it has become increasingly difficult for those seeking to please Him. Regardless, we are called to stand firm.

Looking at the world from the vantage of the Scriptures, we can clearly see the damage around us. It is not hidden, but seen in broken lives, families, churches, and societies. And people do not naturally correct this. Like the law of gravity, the law of “evil men…will proceed from bad to worse,” and relentlessly continues. Instead of seeing the carnage and disaster, they will naturally immerse themselves into more and more of the same without end. Their evil perception is to them a need for more evil to correct the messes already made. The Christian must be fully aware of this, and instead follow Paul’s instructions for these last days. He says, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14). Our ultimate overcoming source is the Scriptures in which Paul states, “So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17). Our head and our heart are to be in the Word of God, and our closest associations should be with those who truly love the Lord. No person can stand against the prevailing evil without the Bible’s instruction. We must never allow evil to influence us, but instead serve as lights in the darkness. This includes praying consistently for those in our personal frame of reference who are lost, and as our situations allow, speak to them unashamedly of Christ. Augustine, the great theologian, was a striking sinner and a terrible Christ rejector for years. His mother never gave up praying for him and God heard her prayers. He became a changed man and one of the leading theologians of church history.

Psalm 15 sums up in the simplest words the answer to the greatest concern as the world around us moves foolishly and blindly toward the coming final judgment of God. “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1). The combination of these two questions addresses the most important matter for every person. We do not need to look around. The answer is found in the next verse. “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:2). The answer although simple is impossible outside the work of God seen in true expressions of saving faith, “By His doing we are in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:30). And, we know we are called to follow Him in living out our salvation, no matter the darkness around us or what anyone else is doing, we press on by faith. By this we will abide in our Lord’s dwelling, and with Him in glory forever. And by this, God may use us to help another lost soul. Brethren, keep on keeping on, faithful to the end!