Weeping Over America
This morning I began reading through Lamentations, as I read through God's Word this year. We don't talk about "lamenting" much anymore, but it is a book written by the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. He is weeping over what has happened to God's people and to Jerusalem in the years around 587 BC. The mighty nation of Babylon had come and destroyed the Temple of God, torn down the walls of Jerusalem, burned the main buildings to the ground, and taken many people away captive to Babylon. If you read the inspired accounts of Isaiah and Jeremiah, you can see that it all resulted because of the sins of the people and God's punishment for those sins.
I realize that America is not a theocracy. I know that Americans are not God's people like the Jews were in the Old Testament time. However, there is a parallel between what happened to Judah and what is happening to the USA. God punishes sin. He did not just punish the Jews. He punished Babylon by sending the Medes against them for their sins. Sin is a reproach to any people. God loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves in sin without trying to get our attention and turn us back to Him.
I believe that is what He is trying to do in America today. It breaks my heart to see the opposition to God and to Jesus Christ. When I see how we are breaking His truth, it is no wonder that our enemies are prospering, and we are going down. Our children have become enslaved to useless things, instead of growing up in spiritual wholeness. Our country is crumbling from within. No one could have destroyed us, but we are destroying ourselves.
However, since sin is the problem, salvation is the solution. God is the God of salvation. He is the One who receives the sinner who turns to Him. He is ready to forgive and restore as He did for Nineveh in Jonah's day. Instead of weeping, we could have rejoicing, if we would just realize the God of Creation is the Absolute Authority and trust Him. Trust the One who came to die for our sins and rose again to prove it, Jesus Christ. Let's let folks know what is going on, so our weeping can be turned to rejoicing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 2-4.
I realize that America is not a theocracy. I know that Americans are not God's people like the Jews were in the Old Testament time. However, there is a parallel between what happened to Judah and what is happening to the USA. God punishes sin. He did not just punish the Jews. He punished Babylon by sending the Medes against them for their sins. Sin is a reproach to any people. God loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves in sin without trying to get our attention and turn us back to Him.
I believe that is what He is trying to do in America today. It breaks my heart to see the opposition to God and to Jesus Christ. When I see how we are breaking His truth, it is no wonder that our enemies are prospering, and we are going down. Our children have become enslaved to useless things, instead of growing up in spiritual wholeness. Our country is crumbling from within. No one could have destroyed us, but we are destroying ourselves.
However, since sin is the problem, salvation is the solution. God is the God of salvation. He is the One who receives the sinner who turns to Him. He is ready to forgive and restore as He did for Nineveh in Jonah's day. Instead of weeping, we could have rejoicing, if we would just realize the God of Creation is the Absolute Authority and trust Him. Trust the One who came to die for our sins and rose again to prove it, Jesus Christ. Let's let folks know what is going on, so our weeping can be turned to rejoicing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Lamentations 2-4.