“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9).
Jesus Christ came to this world to save us from our sins. “She [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He came to show us the way back to God. He came to give us real life, true life that is worth living. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He came to save our homes.
Great God, we sing that mighty hand
By which supported still we stand.
The opening year Thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it till it close.
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. . . .
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
This term comes from the German Weltanschauung, literally, “beholding the world.” Everyone has a perception, a basic set of ideas, about life as though looking at the world through a particular pair of glasses. Worldview then translates into the way people respond to surroundings, the goals that they set, and the values they pursue. The outcomes can be radically different. For one example, in our culture, one worldview seeks to destroy the very lives that the other is seeking to save. This also demonstrates how wildly worldview can swing, even in fifty years. Thus, cultural stability and cultural change are dictated by the way in which the energy of the dominant worldview is expended.
Several years ago a pastor and some of his young people made headlines when they built a large bonfire and the young people threw their rock music into the fire. The reason they gave for doing this was that young people so often commit immorality to a background of rock music that they wanted to be rid of its evil influence.
“Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth” (Job 12:15).
The electric clock hands sweep silently through the wintry night. Then the jarring buzz—fivethirty a.m.—time to get up again. I take it for granted every morning. Sure, the electricity may go off, but rarely. There’s always the old faithful wind-up alarm clock in case of emergencies.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).