How Long Will America Last? A Biblical Perspective on America's Greatness
In addition, I also have pondered that America's greatness today is not just the direct result of its patriots. As I study American history, I am struck with the fact that it is the providence of Almighty God that had time and time again delivered America through great turmoil (like the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War II, etc). I think this delivery by God's providence came as a result that America had many who were God's people--American citizens who were also citizens of God's Kingdom. If you check it out, you will find that America in its history has enjoyed many spiritual revivals--three of them being called Great Awakenings--during its short time of liberty from Great Britain. Yet, when I look at today, I am struck at the reality that America of 2011 is going in the opposite direction of its spiritual heritage. Many of American's citizens are not children destined for heaven, but rather are slaves of sin, living only for today, not thinking of the eternal consequences of their sin tomorrow. This present reality is truly sad news and breaks my heart as an American. Why you may ask? The reason is that the Bible makes it clear that those who live in sin (sin is breaking God's Law--like the 10 Commandments) will not experience God's blessing, but rather His chastisement and judgment. America, if it doesn't reverse its sin loving course, will ultimately go down the slippery slope to moral destruction and God's judgment.
Where is this proof that America is going in the opposite direction of the Lord, heading down a road to moral destruction and God's judgment? The proof is found in God's Word the Bible.
Consider the following list of Scriptures. Some are direct references to nations, others are to Israel, but all can be directly applied to any group of people who forget the Lord and live for self and sin:
Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Psalm 33:12
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs; they weave the spider's web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace. Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men. We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
Isaiah 59:1-15
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7
For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. Obadiah 1:15
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:4
Just in this short list of verses it is made evident that trouble and not blessing comes to those who forget God. America, if it doesn't turn back to God, will eventually cease to be a great nation. But the fantastic news is that it is not too late for America to return! How can America return? All America has to do is for its citizens to repent (see their sin as God's sees it ) of their sin against God and to turn to Him for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6), the Savior of the World:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John 3:14-21As a side note, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I challenge you as I was challenged yesterday that America needs intercessory prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-5). The challenge was not just to realize the wrong being done (like in Isaiah 59:9-14), but to be in prayer on behalf of the nation (Isaiah 59:15-16), its leaders, and its people that Americans will realize their sin, and come back to the only God who is strong enough to save from sin. Remember: "the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear." Isaiah 59:1
I close with some lines from our national anthem and My Country, 'Tis of Thee:
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preseved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust!" And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
My Country, 'Tis of Thee:
Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King."Psalm 119:89
Rev. Steve
