WordJourney

Friday is the birth date for the United States of America, the 232nd celebration of this country’s independence. It seems only like yesterday that we celebrated America’s bicentennial, an event that took place less than two weeks after I graduated from high school.

I’ve witnessed plenty of changes in our country over the years and, what I don’t recollect personally, I heard at the knees of my parents, aunts and uncles, and my grandparents. Knowing people who remember when residential electrical and/or telephone service first arrived, who actually owned a Model “T”, or who fought in the second, never mind the first world war tends to broaden one’s scope on how dramatic the changes have been. I heard a lot of stories about life during the Great Depression, a time that truly tested this nation’s resolve.

My feelings about these and other changes are mixed — civil rights and freedom for all Americans has been realized, but many people are taking the word “freedom” and twisting it to mean “license” to do whatever they want. I’m not going to rehash the obvious, rather I’m urging Christians to do what we should never tire of doing: interceding in prayer to God on behalf of this nation.

“If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

If you read through the Old Testament, you soon realize that the problems facing America today are similar to the problems facing the nation of Israel thousands of years ago. The Israelites turned away from God, chose to follow idols, and found themselves practicing every sort of debauchery possible. Leviticus 18 offers a clear illustration of the sins practiced and the result of that sin — God promised to vomit them out of the land for defiling the land.

Unlike some who teach that all Americans must repent in order for God’s blessing to return, I believe 2 Chronicles is directed at people who “are called by my Name.” For Israel, that applied to the Jews of that day; but for America, the call seems directed at professing believers — followers of Jesus Christ.

I believe that instead of railing against the sinful practices of so many of our fellow Americans we should examine our own hearts and come before the Lord in repentance. Once our hearts have been made right before God, then we are in a position to cry out to Him on behalf of others. Who knows, but it may not be too late for this country and God could choose to heal our land.

Sure, I understand the application of this verse applies to Israel primarily, but it also serves to remind Christians the world over of one important point — we need to have our own hearts cleansed and we’re to intercede on behalf of others. Why? So that we can live in peace will all men.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1:6)

I believe that the United States of America is perhaps the greatest nation ever to rise up on this earth. Israel, of course, is the nation that God chose to be a light to all of the nations, but God has blessed America in so many ways that some have lost sight of that fact while others aren’t even aware of it.

I know that I can’t change people’s hearts and minds, but I know of Someone who can. The most effective “weapon” we have in this world is prayer, so let’s use it often to intercede on behalf of this great nation.

May God truly bless America with a repentant heart.

Photo Credit: Mark Alan

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3 - NIV)

One question often asked these days besides, “Is there a God?” is the one asking if we are nearing the end of the world.

Even people who do not believe in God, in a supreme being, or do not put their trust in some other entity understand that we live in perilous times. Sure, these same folks aren’t always using the word “perilous” to describe present day conditions, but that doesn’t matter — some have a strong inkling that things today are just not quite right. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, famine, excessive heat, sandstorms, volcanic activity, and more are impacting the earth today.

Certainly, it seems that some of that concern centers on one area chiefly — global climate change a/k/a global warming.  Scan the internet, pick up your daily newspaper, or read almost any magazine and you’ll be under the distinct impression that the world is going through some very trying times. And, if you were to heed the warnings from environmental advocates such as Al Gore, you’d understand that we don’t have much time to do something about it.

I have nothing against those who want to be good stewards of this earth, but I believe another agenda can be found just below the surface. Namely, some of the leaders of the environmental movement seem to want to exert their control over mankind. Specifically, by measuring a person’s “carbon footprint” or judging how they use earth’s resources seems to be some of the ways that they are going about doing this.

Others have expressed alarm that the Mayan calendar, written many centuries ago, only goes through 2012. I’ve read that a Mayan prophet was said to have predicted that the earth will end on winter solstice of that year which is December 21, 2012. In other words, don’t bother to do your Christmas shopping that year!

I find it useless to engage in conversations that have little or no merit or distract people from what they really need to hear: God loves them, their sins separate them from Him, sinners (every person on earth) must realize that Jesus already paid the price for their sins, and that by asking for His forgiveness and restoration, communion with God will be restored.

Will the world end in 2012? Well it could.  But, we aren’t to concern ourselves with a date. Instead, in Matthew 25:13, Jesus said: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”  The only way we can truly watch is by having eyes that see and only those eyes opened up by God can truly comprehend the events of our day.