Opiates of the masses

Religion is the opiate of the people. So true too often. The wine of Babylon is the euphoric imagination that lives off of emotion rather than principle. It thrives on lawless empty mindedness rather than thriving on the Law of God, the bread of life.

But history can be, and too often is, also an opiate of the masses. Most view historical events and places as entertainment and bask in the magic of it all. They float around in a lake of awe and wonder and relive the provincial, pagan, fairytale lives of past oppressors and places of misery and enslavement. If the history had righteous aspects, those are disregarded or played down and the rest that dishonors God and His Law is glamorized.

Most re-livers of history worship—they worship the enslavement that affords the elite lifestyles pointed for their dreamy pleasurable perusal. They don’t research and dig up the truth of the past. The true assumption of the Holy Bible is not their assumption, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” (Jer. 17:5,6).

Their assumption is that everything is good and has always been good. Thus, they blind themselves to the growing insurgence of satanic evil in the world and miss the departure of the Holy Spirit. They also never learn from history, that evil is always present and we must heed the Bible admonition, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Pet. 5:8).

Earthly wealth is another opiate of man. The rich actually do find the pot at the end of the rainbow. Unlike for the poor, the pot of gold is not illusive for the wealthy and talented and smart. But what eludes the rich is the happiness that they assume comes with the pot of gold. It’s happiness and joy and trust that is the true illusive pot of gold, which the rich covet from the middle class, obedient friends of God. the absense of trust and love drive the rich and famous into every sort of vice to drown out the misery.

True salvation is not an opiate or intoxicant of any kind. Rather, it’s a detoxifier. Sin is the spectrum of all opiates. It benumbs the conscience and the heart, and thus all senses. Sin comprehends the whole wine of Babylon. The tonic that Christ gives clears the heart and mind of the unholy intruder of self-preservation and self-sufficiency. The effectatious and pretty, cannot replace affection; the comical or clever cannot supply joy. Affection, acceptance, reconciliation, humiliation, love are the true sobering realities that bring life and hope and purpose. Everything contrary to these is unsatisfying and an opiate.

The Law of love is the weight that holds emotions into the audible range. Love is the settling force that maintains our affections and creates fellowship. Implicit faith is the boon of health of body, mind, and soul, and faith in God’s love will translate His love to us.