Passages For Spiritual Reflection

As a Matter of Faith

(Reference - 1Peter 5:8) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

  Insulation is certainly not an unusual topic to be discussed by a contractor like myself. And I think we all realize the value of insulating our homes from the Elements of the climate which can be damaging to our health and comfort. But do we insulate ourselves against the elements of the immoral and uncivil rampages brought about by the climate of our degenerating culture and social weather?  

  Good common sense has it so that when it is cold out, we cloak ourselves with a warm coat to protect us from the cold but do we adorn a coat of spiritual protection from the hazards of our present day society? Our modern day culture is full of traps and devious schemes, hell bent on warping and confusing our distinctions between right and wrong, moral and the immoral, or philanthropy and selfishness.    

  Insulationism, is obviously not a word, but it is a term I use to describe sort of a spin off version of the Bible’s, Shield of Faith. It involves nothing more than utilizing your keen sense of awareness of the world around you so that you do not fall prey to the hungry lion looking to fulfill his appetite. If we are not alert, we can be too easily drawn away from our principles and yield to the conformity of our society in order to fit in. Just because the whole world seems to be heading that way, doesn’t mean we should follow because in fact, the whole world is not being gobbled up by Satan.   

  Which brings up another point; we should also be careful not to isolate ourselves from all our brothers and sisters in Christ which are experiencing the same opposition to their faith by the devil.  Peter goes on to write in verse 9 this very point; “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” We should not isolate ourselves from God but insulate ourselves from Satan.  

  Isolation from the world completely is impossible but we can shield ourselves from the wrong influences. However you should separate yourself from the obvious signs of evil and negative influences which are always a good idea.

  And wear the insulated coat God has given us to protect us from the sneaky ways in which we can be drawn away from God. That insulated coat consists nothing more than trusting in what God teaches, use the consciousness formed from your faith, and applying good common sense. 

© Phillip E. Sorant ******* 2010 

Post Script:  I will be expanding on my theory of Insulationism as it applies to our everyday life and our families. (To be posted soon.)