Sometimes I am interviewed by college and seminary students in religion courses.  I pray before each interview that God would lead me in ways that glorify Him.  I love telling the story of God and His Son, Jesus, who reconciled us back to God.  I love telling how my relationship with God through Jesus as grown and is still growing.  I also tell of the crossroads I have had in my life where I had to choose life or the world. 

Over the years, I’m asked the same questions, “Do you think the world is changing in their view of God?” This question is followed up with, “Is the church changing with the world?”  These questions are loaded with answers as we reflect and compare what the world in general thinks now to what the world vew of God was decades ago.  The heart of this generation in my lifetime, as well as generations past and present, are discussed.  Behaviors are analyzed.  What we thought as unacceptable behaviors “back then” are now seemingly applauded.  Christianity seems to be more and more a belief to be mocked as it is considered backward thinking.  Many want proof that Jesus was more than a good teacher.  But is this mood new?

At the heart of it all, the discussion seems to settle on the mood of this age with this question:  Is God’s church affected by the mood of our cultural society or are we affecting our culture with the Light of Jesus who shines in and through us in ways that draw people to Him?  What is the mood of this age?  Are our eyes open to see the shift in the mood of this age? 

Is society affecting who we are and say we believe more than we are affecting society with the Truth of Jesus?  What is the mood of this age?

Jesus, Son of God, who has the advantage to see and know the hearts of people while observing behaviors says, “The mood of this age is all wrong.”  The song, “looking for love in all the wrong places” comes to mind as we read what Jesus said to the crowd who were seeking yet another miraculous performance from Jesus.

Luke 11, The Message

Keep Your Eyes Open

^29-30 As the crowd swelled, he took a fresh tack: “The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody’s looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you’re going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age.

^31-32 “On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’

^33-36 “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

First pause, pray, reflect. 

When asked, “what has changed in the world you live and how has it changed in you,” how would you respond?

What is the mood of this age?  How do we respond to this mood?  Do we hide what we know to be truth so that we may fit in without hassle or awkwardness? 

What is the mood of God’s church? Does the church think inwardly or outwardly?  Are we merely tantalizing people with smoke and mirrors of performance while avoiding the truth—all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and need a Savior?  Is the church open to change the mood of this age with different methods of delivery of the Truth with God’s wisdom to never change the Truth?

The mood of this age of our world is still wrong and highly unreliable. We cannot depend on our moods! That’s why God sent His Son to earth to saves us from our moody feelings that result in living the ways of selfishness, envy, pride, greed, sexual deviances, and hate—all that is not God.  When we rise above the darkness of our moods to see the light of Jesus dawn before us, we glow and bask in the light of His love with eyes wide open to see His glory at work!  Saying yes to Jesus changes everything about us—how we see, hear, feel, think, and act. 

We learn that we can trust in Someone who loved us first, died for our sins, rose again to life, and loves to be with us always!  He never changes in His love and compassion for us. 

The big secret to be shared is this: His Holy Spirit comes to live in us as a beacon of Light for the new path we walk. (Christ in us! Colossians 1:27) God’s Holy Spirit begins His work to transform our thinking from what the world thinks to His higher Kingdom thinking.  His Kingdom thinking begins to affect change in our behaviors.  His Kingdom thinking changes our mood.  We learn to no longer rely on our feeling but on His Holy Presence abiding in us.  His Kingdom of God thinking changes our relationships with not only God but with each other! The more we realize the love God has for us, the more we love each other! 

The Light of His love in us cannot be hidden.  Everyone will notice and be drawn to this light that daily changes our mood and sets us free to love without thinking of what we will get in return or how deservedly they are of our love.  We just love with the love of God in us.  New heart.  New life in Christ.  New mood!

Who or what is affecting our mood?  Is it God or this moody world?

Let’s keep our eyes open to see the Light!  “Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.” –Jesus

Lord,

We are a moody bunch of people!  Our feelings and our hearts deceive us at times.  The enemy loves it when we are distracted from the Truth who loves and saves us. I repent of the times when I allowed my feelings to affect my mood even for a few hours in a day.  I’m not at your best when I fall for feelings that hinder your best work in me.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our thinking, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work in us.  Remove all that is not you from us that is dimming Your light in us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen