Proverbs
1:24–31 “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand,
and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I
will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your
destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose
the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my
reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled
with their own devices.”
This section of verses reads like it
could be a declaration from God against the United States and the rest of the world on the front pages of today’s newspapers . The Lord has always ensured that the message
of the gospel be declared to the peoples of the world by His prophets,
messengers and others who love Him. In
spite of His faithful diligence and the prophetic proofs that support the truth
of that message, the nations as a whole have rejected Him. I believe that America, a nation founded on
scriptural principles, is held to a higher accountability than many of the
other nations because of the following biblical principle.
Luke
12:48 “For unto whomsoever much is
given, of him shall be much required.”
Many of America’s most prestigious universities
were originally established with the purpose of educating young people from a
biblical foundation. We have been
blessed to benefit from the teaching of many great men of God. I think we have been blessed like no other
nation on earth except maybe Israel during the days of Solomon. I personally believe that our prosperity has
contributed to our downfall because, like Israel, we began to credit ourselves
for attaining such wealth and influence rather than recognizing our blessings
as coming from God. We began to think
that we were wiser than God and that the principles of His word were outdated
and couldn’t possibly be right for the times in which we live. We then allowed the enemies of God to lead
us in declaring God no longer welcome in the public arena and His word
irrelevant. We have a culture in which few
know how to discern between good and evil any more. In fact, we have declared evil to be good in
light of biblical truth. Isaiah warned
the people of Israel against this very thing.
Isaiah 5:20–23 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and
prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and
men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward,
and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!”
Though God is very patient and longsuffering in
His desire to see as many come to repentance as possible…
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
…His patience does have an end and He
then declares judgment. Once His
judgment begins, His ears are closed to prayers seeking His deliverance. In fact, He declares that He will laugh at
our calamity and mock at our fear. I
can’t help but connect this thought with another thought recorded by the
Apostle Paul concerning those who will follow the Antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 “And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned
who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Yes, God is love, full of mercy and
ready to forgive—but His patience has limits and His righteousness demands the
judgment of sin. When we continue to reject
God, there comes a time when He will give us over to reap the consequences of
our sin. This truth was also proclaimed
by Paul in his letter to the Romans; in context it follows the description of
those who had rejected God to embrace a homosexual lifestyle.
Romans 1:28–32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things
which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding,
covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Personally, I
believe the United States as a whole is under judgment. I believe the final nail was put in the
coffin when our President, our chosen leader, struck down the biblical marriage
mandate. I can only pray that the
rapture occurs before the worst happens.
Whatever He chooses to allow or cause as His hand of judgment falls, I
pray that true believers will stand strong in their faith and take advantage of
every opportunity to declare His love to others through their actions while
proclaiming the gospel message of salvation.
(to be continued…)
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