The Vietnam War was still going on, there were protests in the streets of most American cities, there was civil unrest . . . hmmm. What goes around, comes around I guess. The same thing can be said of our nation today. Have we really progressed as a nation since this video was recorded, some 40+ years ago? Not really.
The only thing that seems to be different is the way we treated soldiers returning from war. Now we cheer them and honor them for their service, we make videos of their homecomings and put them on YouTube to show each other how much we care. A far cry from when we used to spit on them and dishonor them with our mouths. Do that today and you would be arrested for hate speech. Why the change?
I think it's largely because the people of my generation have grown up. Wee were the spitters and dishonorers. We were the "peace" generation of hippies, free love and drugs. And now, in this present day and age, we feel guilty for what we have done. In short, we have repented of our sins.
What will this next generation be sorry for when they are my age?
If I had to make a guess it would be a sense of direction and purpose. Basically, I see a generation wandering in the desert. Sound familiar? A generation falling away from God and we, the generation that went before them, are simply watching them walk away without saying much of anything. Wouldn't want to offend anyone.
This nation, this world, is doomed unless it repents of its ways and we return to being a God-honoring people. Otherwise it will certainly die spiritually. And should we require a "cause of death" to be written on our death certificate it will ready simply, "SELF."
In the chorus of the Neil Young song I mentioned we can get a clue about our nature as humans.
"Keep me searching for a heart of gold.
You keep me searching and I'm growing old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
I've been a miner for a heart of gold."
You keep me searching and I'm growing old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
I've been a miner for a heart of gold."
If we look at out spiritual lives, who is the "You" in line two? It's God. We keep searching and we never find our "heart of gold" because we are looking for answers that satisfy ourselves. Those answers never satisfy and so we keep searching . . . and I'm growing old doing so.
There is a solution to our fruitless search. There is a way we can be satisfied in our longing for a heart of gold. The illusive treasure is found in Jesus. He has the ability to refine our hearts, to cease our endless wandering, looking for that one thing that one He can provide. And here's the thing. Once we find Him, we will never "grow old." Not if we are in Christ Jesus.
"3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts." - Proverbs 17:3
"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:3-9
Heart Of Gold - Neil Young
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