We all have a variety of seeds related to certain behaviours and emotions within us. Be this good, bad or anything in between. As our free will is our own and cannot be tampered with, we can only be influenced by external things. The craft of the evil one is particularly fine-tuned towards leading man into temptation and sin, and we inherently sew the seeds of sinful behaviour, following the deeds of Adam and Eve and the spiritual corruption we inherited from them.

These seeds grow into corrupt vines that choke off our inherent ability to hear Gods will. The seal off the doorways through which God communicates with us and over time, they bare foul fruit in the forms of our sinful behaviour like fornication, gluttony, violence and the host of other things that have become normal and acceptable this day in age. This bitter harvest perpetuates the corruption of sin within and around us, pulling us ever closer towards damnation.

Never have we as Gods children been further from him. The chasm between our souls and Gods holy light is near insurmountable.

The evil one and his minions are in a perpetual state of peddling influence and temptation, refined over millennia and honed to a razors edge. Through this masterful craft, our generation has succumbed to the bitter harvest by our reliance on convenience and the tools that provide this. (phones, television, processed foods, sexual immorality and many other things)

We have never been farther from God than we are this day in age. This is particularly true of the "western" world which was once a beacon and a light to the world and at the forefront of Christianity. Now it is near desolate and the faith as a whole has been turned into a political tool to press non-Christian agendas to assist in the sinful harvest of the world.

There are however bastions in the west that have resisted this, much like the Orthodox churches of the east, but as a whole, faith leaders, pastors, priests and their congregations have fallen victim to political will and indirectly do the evil ones bidding. We are so far fallen from the times where great martyrs in Christ -  like St George and St Polycarp gave their lives for Christ, resisting torture and death and prevailing for God and the good of us all, - that the mere suggestion of political isolation turns the timid, part time Christian away from Christ and towards the sinful idolatry of the politics of the day.

How the great names in the history of Christianity would weep. How Christ must weep for us, his wayward flock.

Resistance and personal strength are now more than ever not just required or necessary, but are essential if we are to have the feintest hope of not only personal salvation but for the redemption of our society.

The false political narrative that’s Christians are weak, placid and soft has been pushed to the point that an entire generation resists Christ and actively avoids faith in favour of sin which has been made not only acceptable but is required to be politically acceptable and to be accepted by the sinful masses.

This is a horrible, foul time in the history of the world and an entire generations eternal souls are at risk of falling into the clutches of the evil one and his minions, to be judged inadequate by God and abandoned to the pit. This wounds me and makes me so angry, which wounds me again as I feel as I am sinning by being righteous in my own heart and mind.

The question arises, how do we tackle this? How do we begin implementing change? We do not leave it to others as generations before us have done, leading us to this precipice. We take charge of our own salvation, our own mortal destinies and offer our lives, sacrifices and successes to Christ. We offer ourselves, our time and our resources to those who need it more than us and we find it in ourselves, through desperate and deep prayer to love those who do wrong to us. We take that burden, we carry it as Jesus carried his cross and we endure, pray and love.

That is a simple starting point, if simple is the right word for it. Through doing those things, we embody the word of Christ, or at least, in our imperfect way, try to. Through doing this, we set an example, a precedent that is powerful and visible to all. Through this, we allow the Holy Spirit to shine through us and touch those around us, allowing Christ to evangelise and draw people to him through our examples, sense of duty and endurance in faith.

That’s a broad statement and for many, is too broad and impersonal. How does one do that personally, every day, every minute and in every decision? This is the terrible difficult question that most cannot answer for themselves, or refuse to meditate and pray on as we are too easily distracted by the falsely sweet comforts of the modern world. This series of sins and passivity prime us for the bitter harvest of the evil one.

We do this by keeping God in mind at all times. We force ourselves into the habit of recognising that God is with us when we sleep, when we wake, when we make decisions, when we work and when we are alone in the dark at night and think nobody can see us. God is always with you and you need to keep that in your mind at all times. Read the gospel, read the bible, join a church, be baptized and humble yourself through fasting, manual work, vigils and constant prayer. Simplify your life in Christ the living God and you will do his will. Step away from the comforts and distractions of the world and harden your heart to sin. Do not let it in and instead focus on Christ.

Generations ago, we were strong, resolute, dutiful and had endurance in all things and most especially Christ. We have lost that and have become week, apathetic, sinful and poor of heart and soul. We can only fix that by setting our intention to follow the word of God in every thought, act and deed.

Doing so is our only hope for salvation and crossing the ever broadening chasm between us and Christ. Remember, when we take a step towards Christ, he runs a mile towards us. Yet that final step belongs to us. We can choose by the grace of God to draw closer to God as he calls us or remain distant. We need to make the choice, we need to follow his living example and embody what it means to be Christians. Only in doing so do we begin to change the world. Only in doing so do we set a torch to the corrupt vines that choke out the light in our hearts and in the West. Only in following Christ and leading others to him through our example, not words and public stunts do we fuel the fire of the torch and light the way for others to reignite themselves and the nations of the west to bring them back to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Living God, Jesus Christ.

Only through Christ can we save ourselves and our world. The time is short and the hour of his return draws ever nearer.

What have you done to follow Christ today? What have you done to set an example for others and let the Holy Spirit illuminate you and shine on those around you today?

Will you fall prey to the evil ones bitter harvest? Or will you stand up with strength, duty and endurance and carry your cross as you follow Christ?