I believe that we are a nation under the judgment of God. As I look around me and see all that is happening in this once great nation, I cannot help but feel that God is trying to wake this nation up and make her see how far she has fallen in His sight.
Let me begin by stating that America has always been a God-fearing country. We were founded as a God-fearing nation. Regardless of the atheists and agnostics, the majority of the American people has claimed a belief and trust in God. Over the years we have allowed various practices into this nation that I believe is causing God to frown upon us.
The Great Awakening of American History took place in the 1730’s thru the 1750’s. It was a precursor to our American revolution. The Great Awakening came about because Puritan New England started to Compromise the teachings of God. This led to judgment on them. Crop failures. Earthquakes as in New England in 1727. In fact, a minister from New England stated “ Alas, as though nothing but the most amazing thunders and lightnings, and the most terrible earthquakes could awaken us, we are at this time fallen into as dead a sleep as ever.” The church in New England though alive, was dead in the Spirit.
A revival took place and America had a Spiritual Awakening. Thousands of people were saved and the groundwork for Liberty was laid. At the time that religious freedom was growing in America, it automatically started a movement toward more political freedom. So out of the groundwork for spiritual revival came the birth of the great nation known as the United States of America.
Not all of our Founding Fathers were Christians. But they all had at least a passing acquaintance with Biblical Christianity. And because of that, two of the greatest documents ever written by man came about: The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
Now we will fast forward to our present situation.
When I was growing up I could play out in the streets even after the sun went down. I could watch TV and not be offended. My mother could take me to the movies, and though I may not have totally understood the story line, there was nothing allowed in the movies that could offend us. In fact, watching some of the older movies you can always see a moral bent to the film. Be good. Be fair. Be honest. Honesty pays. Etc. And the children were safe and it seemed that America, as a whole was a nicer nation.
Then prayer was taken out of school. No more Bible reading. And then movies were allowed to have “just a little bit of nudity”. And everything went downhill from there. It was not 15 years after prayer was taken out of school that Roe v. Wade came into being. And then pornography (which was a secret sin) was allowed to come out into the open. And then Homosexuality (which was also a secret sin.) And before I get jumped, I am not homophobic. Two people in my life that I really care for are lesbians. Let me remind you…. It was God who condemned homosexuality and called it sin.
And then children were not safe anymore. Not safe in the womb. Not safe on the streets. And now, children do not only have to fear sexual predators being strangers, they now have to fear their own family. Never a day goes by where you do not read some horrible story of a child being sexually assaulted or physically harmed by their parents. Their very own parents. Those who should be protecting and nurturing the child. This is tragic.
I am not stating that things like this did not occur when I was growing up. But they sure occurred a lot less. And people were shunned and sent to jail for their crimes. Now, when some of them stand before activist judges, they get a slap on the wrist and maybe probation. And then they are released to practice those crimes again. And where is the outrage from the American people. Oh, some of us speak up, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Then the education system failed us and we allowed professors and teachers to re-write history and teach children things that children ought not to be taught. At least not while they are so terribly young and easily molded. Instead of teaching them the three R’s we teach them sex education and socialism and “green” activism. They cannot add 2 + 2 but they can tell you all about global warming.
And that sets us up for the judgment of God. There is no way that God can lie. Either His word (the Bible is true) or it is a bunch of made up stories. Personally, I believe every word written in the Bible. I may not always be able to explain an obscure passage, but I believe that God is and He is the creator of this universe. As creator, He does not want His children falling into sin. And when they do, He gets their attention.
Some of the ways that God has of getting our attention are:
Loss of Freedom. When the Israelites sinned, and failed to repent, God sent them into Babylonian slavery.
Everyday we are losing our freedoms. Everyday more mandates come down from our government dictating what we are to eat, drink, drive, etc. I have exaggerated here a little. It has not come to that yet, but you can see how we are no longer as free as, let’s say our grandparents. And especially our great-grandparents. They built this nation. They were not taxed to death. They made their own wealth. Us. Well, we are paying well over 50% of our income in taxes. And soon to pay more. With taxation comes the loss of freedom.
Another judgment is danger. We are no longer safe in this nation. We are beset on all sides by our enemies. 9/11, Fort Hood, the Christmas Day almost-nightmare. We are no longer safe. “Our necks are under persecution: we labor and have no rest. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians to be satisfied with bread. Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have born their iniquities. Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. We eat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.” Lamentations 5:5-9
And finally, famine. The past year of 2009 here in central Arkansas was very cold and damp. Lots of gardens did not come good because of the lack of sunshine and excessive moisture. As I am writing this, we are expecting lows this weekend of 5 degrees. We are being punished with an Arctic blast. This is not normal weather for the mid-south. And this has been continuing since late October (on and off). I plant a fall garden. This year it is failing because of the cold. All of my crops can handle cold weather. This is more than cold. This is the killing kind of cold.
And it is not just here. The cold is seeping way into the Deep South. The south that grows so many fruits and vegetables for the nation during the winter. The kind of cold that kills the crops.
Also, many people were late in getting their gardens out last year because of the cold. And then came the rains and the below normal temperatures and the lack of sunshine. And so, their gardens failed.
Famine is one of the judgments that God uses to get peoples attention. If these growing conditions continue, that is what we in this country will be experiencing. Famine. “And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers”. Jeremiah 24:10
Do I feel that things are hopeless? No. I do not. But I do believe that if this nation is to remain free and blessed by God we are going to have to turn back to Him and not just with words, but also with deeds. Simply meant, we have to mean that we are turning back to him. If we do not, I fear God will judge us very harshly.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
As it was in New England in the early 1700’s, the churches of today, though alive, are dead in the Spirit. If we were to have another Great Awakening and Spiritual Revival, I truly believe that God would once again bless this nation.
It is up to us now. Do we want God’s judgment or His Blessings? It is our choice.