prophecy

Recently I've been making my way through the Old Testament prophets.    Sobering words indeed.  Those passages have always been difficult for me to read.  So much tragedy!   Such foolishness for Israel to turn away from the Lord God, who'd been her Champion for so many years.

When I read those ancient words in light of the modern world, it makes me shudder.  This culture in which we live, it has turned away from the Lord.  

This is what the Lord says:“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’  But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them.¹⁹  Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.

Jeremiah 6:16-19

There are so many more passages that caught my attention and made my heart skip a beat.  It all sounded so eerie in its similarity to our present economic  political, and cultural climate.  I am afraid.  Afraid for my country, afraid because I see the fruit that's coming of the choices our nation has made - whether intentionally or through silence.  

I don't know what the future holds, but it seems we can't go on this way.  We are on a path to destruction, plain and simple.   Whether it comes next week, next year or in 50 years, it frightens me.

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I worked out the above words a few days ago.  And here we stand today.  Truthfully, I must tell you - I'm more afraid than ever.  What will the future bring for my country?  What will it look like for my children?   Lord, come quickly...

I fear that God has allowed America to have the leadership she deserves.  I fear for what may happen in the months and years to come.  I fear that many in my country are about to have a very rude awakening, one for which they will not at all be prepared.

Still.

I don't think the Lord wants us to cower in fear.  I don't think He would have us paralyzed with anxiety.  My feeling is that He would have us move forward as best we know how.

What does that mean?  I'm not totally sure at the moment, but I think...

Speak the truth.  We must not turn away from what is true, and from working to protect the unborn. We must teach our children according to God's laws above all else.  And we must not twist the words of the Bible to support what we want to say.   Truth is absolute, unchangeable.  It is.

Prepare.  To me this means to be ready for difficult days ahead.  We must be aware, we must keep keep up our supplies.  We must think about hard things, for the sake of those we love - our families, our children, and eventually our grandchildren.

Pray.   This one brings tears to my eyes even as I type the words.  Oh, to be a better pray-er!   We must pray for our nation, for the hearts and souls of our people, for our pastors, for our churches, for revival.  We must pray for our children, our spouses, and for our own hearts to be strong.

We must pray, too, for our president.  Whether we agree with his leadership or not, we must pray.  We must pray for him to make good decisions for this country.  And this morning I was thinking...let's pray for his salvation.  Wouldn't it be something if he really, truly came to know Jesus?  It would be tremendous, monumental, better than any novel ever written or the plot of any movie ever made.  It would be a game-changer.

It could happen, you know.  God's specialty is transforming hearts; he is mighty to save. Think of Nebuchadnezzar.  Think of Saul, later to become Paul.  Think of the Roman Emperor Constantine.  Is anything too hard for God?

I think not.

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.  (Proverbs 21:1)

So there is hope.

And even if it all falls down around us, even if the worst happens, we who believe know the end of the story.

Our Redeemer wins.