Matt. 24:12: Iniquity is defined as lawlessness, that is, the avoiding of or neglecting of law. Lawlessness has long been a way of life of the ungodly, but "Christian" denominations have now joined the ranks of "antinomianism" (the belief that faith alone, not obedience to moral law, is necessary for salvation).

This is reflected in the various doctrines of many of the main-line denominations whose message contains the false idea of "grace versus law," as if the one is opposed to the other! There is no truth in this premise, but the result of this teaching is clearly seen in the superficiality of the average church member.

Throughout the land, the tenth commandment is being trodden in the dust. One of the trends of modern society is gambling. Gambling is nothing more or less than blatant exercise of coveting another person's goods -- money.

In the past five or six years there has been a tremendous surge of casino building, both on land and on water. Many states have approved gambling (by organized corporations, citizen groups, and state lotteries), so that it has become legalized sin.

The Bible says that covetousness is idolatry! (Col. 3:5) An idolater is a slave to his idol, or god. In this case, the god is money; by extension, this would also include the things money can buy.

Few, if any, gamblers indulge themselves only for sport, or fun. They expect to win, and hopefully win big. Any win at all spurs them on to participate more, and more, and more, until they become compulsive gamblers (another word for addicted). A compulsive gambler will waste every dime he gets for a chance to win.

He will let his family do without the necessities of life in order to appease his god. He becomes driven by the demons of desire and lust until his condition is on the same level as a common drunk. Nothing matters much except the god of chance and the spine-tingling thrill his god offers him to keep him hooked.

To say this is a trend is to put it mildly. It is an all out, rip-roaring phenomenon which has spread through most of the Gulf states, up the Mississippi River and into several Midwestern states, as well as along the east coast.

This wholesale disregard of the Word of God is but one more sign that the last days are upon us. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, COVETOUS, .... (1 Timothy 3:1,2)

This diabolical chain is binding its victims into clumps of senseless automatons who have no power of self-control -- they have yielded their wills to the will of the hungry money-god. This subjugation of the will to another is a most dangerous situation, for it opens the door of the heart to the influence, obsession, and finally the possession of evil spirits.

There is a solution for this condition, but few people sincerely want it, for it involves surrendering one's will to Jesus Christ, and that's the last thing that most people want to do. This too, is a sign and a trend of these evil days.

(Reprinted from Number 366, May 1994 issue of "The Testimony of Truth" with permission from "People of the Living God")

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