Save Yourselves from This Generation!

And with many other words [Peter] testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation" (Acts 2:40).

After Peter proves to the crowd of Jews on the day of Pentecost that God has made Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ (cf. Acts 2:14-36), he exhorts them to "save [themselves] from this crooked generation" (Acts 2:40). He wants them to repent of their sins and turn away from them, and that will require them to make a strong break with the thoughts and deeds of those around them (cf. Acts 2:38).

While it is true that Peter preached this message almost two thousand years ago, its message is still appropriate. We, in the twenty-first century, would also do well to save ourselves from this crooked generation!

There are many in this generation who do not believe in God and are quite hostile toward God and Christianity. They preach a message of doubt and self-satisfaction, and many are seduced by their message (cf. Romans 1:18-32).

Such people, however, are a small minority. Most people do not actively work and speak against God and His purposes. Nevertheless, far too many do not stand for God or against Him. They just "go with the flow," accepting much of what they hear from society and the media. They very well may believe in God and believe in Jesus, but they do not do much about it, and think that God will save them because, in general, they are good people. The Scriptures, however, have other things to say: the broad way leads to destruction, and no one will be saved just for being a "good person" (Matthew 7:13-14, Ephesians 2:1-10).

And then there are a lot of people who have a level of faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, but that is about all. They say that they believe, and they may even identify a church that they attend infrequently, but their lives do not show the fruit of a walk with Christ. Religion, to them, is something that you do on Sunday morning, if even that. The Bible is also clear about the sad message that such people will hear if they do not change (Matthew 7:21-23).

Friend, we pray that you would save yourself from this crooked generation. Do not listen to those who rail against God and His Son Jesus Christ. Do not be one who just goes with the flow and believes what everyone else believes. Do not have a weak faith that cannot save. Instead, recognize that Jesus is Lord, believe in Him, confess Him before others, repent of your sin, be immersed in water for the remission of sin, and begin to walk in the path of Jesus Christ, serving Him so that you may obtain eternal life on the last day (Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 2:6, Romans 6:16-18). Be saved from this generation!

Ethan R. Longhenry