America part 3 - Choose Life
The sobriety of this series of articles must leave one's heart heavy. We know from our nation's history, God poured out His blessings on America. A nation highly influenced by His Word. Our history also shows, that we experienced generational creep. As decline continued, in time digresses to overt rebellion. The indicators?
God tells us, "take this path it is good." Man says, "no my path is better."
God blesses and man is thankless.
God calls evil sin, man calls it good.
God offers life, man offers death.
God creates, man destroys.
God warns, "judgment will come!" Man say, "I don't think so."
Robert Rothwell insightfully writes:
Because we are sinners, we tend to take things for granted. One of the basic sins of the human race is ingratitude. Over time, we tend to become less grateful for the regular blessings we receive unless we consciously work at maintaining an attitude of thanksgiving. Every day that God sustains our existence is a day we do not deserve, but because this blessing is so consistent, we tend to not look at it as a blessing. We come to think, often unconsciously, that we do not actually deserve destruction (The Problem is Us, Tabletalk, 5/17/24).
For centuries America was the recipient of Yahweh's blessings. However, when those blessing become an entitlement, something deserved and owed, gratitude is lost. In our nation we have moved beyond ingratitude, to spurning those blessing and even considering them an imprecation.
Looking to Job 12:23, we find in crystal clear terms what God is capable of doing with our nation: "He makes the nations great, then makes them perish; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away." America became great and influential because it was God's doing. And now, we are seeing the flipside of this verse. Those He made "great," He will make them "perish."
"Shall I not punish these people, And on a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?" declares Yahweh.
Jeremiah 5:9
America, you have been warned!
Too Big To Fail
Take Egypt for example. A superpower by any standard and yet destroyed. But, not without warning. Judgment was coming upon the mighty Egyptian nation. The signs were obvious and yet no one heeded the warnings. The Egyptian king harden his heart, even though they were fast moving toward a catastrophic takedown. One that would humiliate the entire nation.
Egypt was a living example of Ecclesiastes 8:1: "because the sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil."
Sadly, those words describe our nation. Like Egypt, we are a people who will not believe the warning signs. Our heart's have become hard. Instead, what we telling ourselves? America, the superpower is too big to fail.
In Mica's day, the people were willful in their ignorance. Their foolish unbelief ignored warnings. They became a nation of darkened hearts that refused to listen to God and His preachers. The foretold judgment indeed came, exactly as Mica warned.
Just because God tends to wait a long time to execute His wrath, we fool ourselves into thinking He never will. A compounding of sin for sure. Nevertheless, people are not oblivious to what God expects. We have no excuse, as Romans 1:21 states, "For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened." When a nation overtly turns it's collective back on her Creator, He will lead them away. Meaning, what He built, He can and will destroy (cf. Romans 2:4-5).
Is It Too Late?
Many years ago Yahweh, through Moses, spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy chapter 30. A choice was laid before our nation. We the people, must choose one of two directions. A test similar in kind to the one Adam and Eve faced in the garden. But, it is not a hard test. In fact, God always gives the answer and shows the way! Eat of this tree, but not of that one "Choose life in order that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). There is no reason to not pass the test.
Notice how Matthew 7:13-14 echoes the choosing of Deuteronomy. Here Jesus presents a choice: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Failing to find the narrow gate that leads to life, is not because it is hidden. No, it is obvious which is the best choice. Why? Because Jesus clearly states that the "narrow gate" is the right choice.
So not knowing the right way is certainly not the issue, it comes down to ones will - the willingness to go the right direction. The choice is clearly laid before each person.
It Is Late, but Not Too Late
No it is not too late. But we must understand, man cannot fix this. Meaning, not congressional legislation or executive order or court order. Not an election or a populous rebellion. We cannot make America great again. Man simply turning to man for a solution is ludicrous, because man is the one who caused the problem to begin with!
The direction we must go is obvious and clearly evident. No guessing or wondering. We are plainly told and shown the right way. The fix is right before our eyes.
The remedy begins with the people. Individuals willing to make a right choice. A choice however, that will come with pain. This means, sorrow will be require. "For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10). This verse describes what our nation must do. It begins with godly sorrow. A willingness to confess the evilness of sin. In other words, turning away from the pride filled wide and easy way, to the narrow gate open only to those sorrowful humble people.
Yet, few find the narrow gate, why? Because it is exclusive, it is only for repenters. We as a nation people must dethrone ourselves and turn in all submission to our Creator. This includes sorrow that confesses sin and willingly turns to the true God. There is no other remedy.
Choose Your Future
The pursuit of death must stop. America must again pursue life. Every man and woman, boy and girl is a creation of God, created in His image and belongs to Him. Therefore, each life from the moment of conception is given value. Every stage of life is to be guarded, protected and cherished.
We must understand, eternity hangs in the balance. The only hope man can offer himself, is self-destruction. This is man's only answer to his anguish, despair and guilt. Darkness, is a meaningless existence with no purpose.
When people young or old, born and yet to be born have no value, this leads to a cultic exploration of death and will ultimately end in judgment and eternal death. "He who pursues evil will bring about his own death" (Proverbs 11:19b). Hell is a hopeless and horrible future of endless death.
Darkness Displaced
Set before us is life. A life with purpose and forgiveness. "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men" (John 1:4). Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is that life and light. His is life full of hope, peace and joy now and for all eternity.
Today we see this vivid contrast. A bright future held up against a dark one. Hope against despair. Forgiveness as opposed to unrecompensed guilt. Living with meaning and joy, to one that is aimless, empty and sad.
Truth can and will overcome the lie. Light displaces darkness. It does not have to be death, life is still in reach. There is hope. The life path begins at the point of repentance. All people are given the choice, one of two gates, the narrow one leads to "life and prosperity," the easy one leads to "death and calamity." Jesus is that "narrow gate."
A Call To Believe!
None of this is too difficult to understand. "For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far from you. ... But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it" (Deuteronomy 30:11,14). This is similar to the language in the latter part of Romans 1. And, Romans 10:8 repeats with, "the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart."
Yahweh is saying, He has given us all that is needed. His commands are not hidden, nor out of reach, there is no mystery, nor are they beyond our ability to obey. They are not difficult or distant. Rather they are near and known. Deuteronomy then, is a call to faith and belief - a promise of salvation. And, points directly to Jesus Christ the redeemer.
"So choose life in order that you may live, you and your seed, by loving Yahweh your God, by listening to His voice, and by holding fast to Him" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Here in simple language God spells out His expectations in words even a child may understand.
To put it idiomatically, this is not rock science. Our God is calling us to believe. To place our trust and faith in Him. He tells exactly what we must do. These verses are truly words of life.
America must follow the example of the wicked Ninevites, for "the people of Nineveh believed in God … then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way" (Jonah 3:5,10). These people heeded the warning. They answered the call. They repented. They chose life. We must do no less.
The Only Solution
America exists today by the mercy of God. Yes the trigger was pulled, the gun fired and the bullet is on it's way. Even so, there is opportunity. Awhile longer is given us. The nation people of America must repent and shake off this delusion. Because, the nation hangs over the pit of hell. Make no mistake, the vengeance of God is coming. For a moment longer though, He is the one holding us back. However, when He lets go, nothing will stop that awful fall.
Our God is handing this nation a solution and is as bright and obvious as the noon day sun. A light that shines on all people. Humanism is that "thief [who]comes only to steal and kill and destroy." Whereas Jesus says, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
The light is God's Son. Jesus offers life and can save us from what will assuredly come. In Christ alone is where our hope is found. Forgiveness and freedom from death come from Him. Jesus healed children and He raised people from the dead, He even created the heavens and the earth, certainly can heal a nation. He came so people may have life now and He freely gives life to all who come to Him!
Choose Life
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death" (Romans 8:1-2).
A nation is made of people. The essence of a nation consists of individual soles. A nation turns when her people turn. This means, the choice begins with you. If you are not in Christ, the path to life is set before you. Confess and repent. Admit your sin and that you desire to turn from wickedness and turn to Him who gives life. Ask, beg, plead to Christ to be set free. He promises He will!
To us Christians, we live in and are part of the American nation. By means of God's providence, we live within the boundaries of these United States for a purpose. We are commanded to make disciples and teach (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). In these difficult times, now more than ever our witness is needed.
Our charge is to proclaim the good news of Jesus and to be the conscience of the nation. We must pray, that each of us will be that voice calling out with the good news. National reformation will occur when her people are reforming. Our duty as Christians is to repent of our own sins, take up the cross and proclaim the words of our God and Savior so all may hear.
"See, I have set before you today life … so choose life in order that you may live."
For a little while longer, hope remains - Yahweh will take us back. Our ingratitude must be replaced with repentance, to become once again a nation thankful for many underserved blessings.
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
1 Chronicles 16:23
