One of the hardest things for me to write about has to do with what is happening to America. And, to add to the problem is groups like those from a church group in Arizona staging a demonstration that is way off base. The message that Jesus commanded His followers to share with the world in no way resembles what is being shown there. But, that does not mean that America is not in trouble. To the contrary. For many folks, inferring that all is not well in America is an instant turn-off, and so a written article like this may not even be read, but for those of you that feel this way, I sincerely hope that you’ll read these comments anyway—if for no other reason, but to intelligently know why you feel the way you do. One of the main purposes of my posts is to stimulate thought, reasoning, and some honest research of your own.
Another category of Americans doesn’t care about America’s status as long as it doesn’t affect them personally. Then there are those that refuse to listen to, or read anything that has any negative implications in it at all. Positive thinking is a big thing in our educated society. Anything less than “positive vibes” are viewed as something that steals from “positive energy”, and needs to be avoided at all costs. Then there is also the religious version of this same thing which says that we should only think on good things, positive things, things of wealth, health, and success. Many of these folks avoid the news or anything else that might show the difficulties of life, as well as issues that the entire world is facing today. And, actually Philippians 4:8 in the Bible does say that we should think on good things. The list in the verse goes like this: good things, true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Yet, this verse is not teaching that God is commanding us to ignore life and its challenges, disasters, failures, etc. It is telling us what it is that should rule our attitude and way of life. Sticking our heads in the sand will only make things hurt all the worse later on. God gave us everything we need to face the future, no matter what it holds for the world, and for each of us individually. We need to grow up and face these things for what they are, because all the positive thinking I can muster is not going to change what God said was going to happen. That is set in stone! But…we are meant to anchor ourselves in the ROCK, which is Jesus Himself. He controls it all.
I have mentioned what is happening to America several times, but would like to take the time in this post to show WHY the nation has been in trouble for years, and is now declining at a mind-boggling speed. The impending fall is much greater and devastating to the way of life that we have gotten used to than most of us would like to think. If you have a care about the future and how you are going to deal with it, please take a little time to read this commentary. The events ahead are coming whether we like it or not, but how we will be able to deal with it, depends on our decisions today.
America as a nation resembles Israel more than any nation in the world. Both had God’s hand on them during their formation. Both nations have covenants with God that bring great blessings when lived up to but also curses if not lived up to. Most people know that this is the case with Israel if they have any Christian background, but not everyone knows that America also has a covenant with God that He expects the nation to live up to. America’s first settlers from Europe made a covenant with God at the formation of this great nation which included all of the things that God promises in Deuteronomy 28-30, as well as the curses when the nation ceases to live up to its end. It is well worth reading these chapters. It is an eye-opener in light of events in this last generation.
America did not become great on its own. It was aided and protected by God from its very inception. This does not mean that there were no mistakes made, neither does it mean that there was not also an evil influence from the very outset. That is always the case, just as it even was in the beautiful Garden of Eden. Not all of the statements made at the forming of the actual government of the United States of America spoke to the actual covenant made in Jamestown, but they made it very clear that it was not even to be questioned that God, the Creator of all was needed in order for this country to become what it was meant to be, and any attempt to govern it without God’s direction and blessing would bring destruction down on the nation—no matter how powerful or wealthy it becomes.
Let me share a handful of quotes from America’s founders. George Washington, who is rightfully called the father of the nation said this in one of the many quotes that has been preserved, “It is rightly impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”
John Adams said this: “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”
Patrick Henry left no doubt about his opinion on the matter: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians.”
Noah Webster, the originator of our Webster’s Dictionary said this: “Almost all of civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the principles of Christian religion.”
Benjamin Rush, also one of the founders, was quite articulate in stating how he felt about it all: “Let the children be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education. The great enemy of the salvation of man in my opinion, never invented a more effectual means of removing Christianity from the world than by persuading mankind it was improper to read the Bible in our schools.”
Then of course there was Thomas Jefferson, who many blame the concept of “separation of church and state” upon (by twisting what he actually said, I might add). Our third president said this: “My views are the result of a lifetime of inquiry and reflection and very different from the anti-Christian system inputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruption of Christianity I am indeed opposed, but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus Himself.” It is an interesting fact to note at this point that Thomas Jefferson had a church built right in Washington D.C., and paid for it out of his own pocket.
There were many worthy quotes that I could have added to these few, but I think the point is sufficiently made. America still has a very large percentage of people that prefer the good. They believe in “absolutes”, as opposed to what has been pushed on campuses for decades now, that says everything is relative. Everything is NOT relative. Some things do not need changing, nor should they be. We have a majority of people that still believe in decency. They believe in laws that protect the victims more than the criminals instead of the reverse which is raising chaos in our society. Most people still believe in the honesty of the handshake deal. Most people still honor those that are real heroes instead of the sleaze that is being worshiped today. I’m certainly not saying that all movie stars, politicians, or athletes are all “sleaze”. Please don’t take me wrong. But, the percentage of those people that set this nation apart from any other are swiftly disappearing or being silenced by one means or another. The generation of people who saw one of their top life experiences as being Woodstock have raised a generation that followed in their footsteps. That second generation now has kids of their own that have nearly lost sight of what life is really all about. We really are in trouble!
The Bible said that the days were coming when right would be called wrong, and wrong would be called right. THOSE DAYS ARE HERE! My reasoning for this long post which I have decided to break up into pieces is meant to address this chaos and the imminent consequences that this all is going to bring about.
I want you to know that every one of you are in my own personal prayers. We are living in a time when it will soon be very difficult to openly live a true genuine Christian life. It is becoming the most volatile time in history, the most dangerous, the most frightful, yet most exciting time ever. There is no excitement coming for anyone that has not settled things with the GOD that created everything there is. You and I need HIM, and we need Him to the max!
Part II of this post is coming right behind Part I. They need to be read in order so that the thoughts tie together the way they are meant to.
Keep Looking Up!
Jake