I post this 2004 piece by Chuck Missler today as I believe it should be inspirational for the mission that I embark on for 2008. I hope you too:
Our review of the final trend, America's Challenge, can be summarized by the opening line of Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times and it was the worst of times."
By some standards, it appears to be the best of times in America: We enjoy a stable economy, reinforced by continually advancing technologies. Families own multiple cars, computers, televisions, and portable phones. Indeed, in many ways, it seems like the best of times.
However, let's assess the State of the Union in the mirror of God's Word. Homosexuality is accepted as simply "an alternative life-style." We murder babies that are socially inconvenient. We change marriage partners like a fashion statement. We have abandoned the sanctity of commitments in our families and in our businesses. Immorality and deceit have come to characterize the highest offices in our land. We have allowed God to be banished from public school classrooms and we have watched as religious expression is constrained under the auspices of "separation of church and state."
Our public enterprises have been prostituted to the convenience of the elite. Our mainline media takes pride in forming public opinion rather than informing it, which had been its sacred role in a representative republic. Our culture has disconnected character from destiny. Our entertainments celebrate adultery, fornication, violence, aberrant sexual practices and every imaginable form of evil. We have become the primary exporters of everything that God abhors.
The situation in America today is in close parallel with that of Israel after the death of King Solomon. The Northern Kingdom, lead by Jeroboam, with a successful standing army, recovered to Israel all the territory lost - even the possession of Damascus. They enjoyed material prosperity unequaled since the days of Solomon. It was, indeed, "the best of times." At least, so it seemed from their point of view.
However, they also had sunk to their lowest ebb of immorality and idol worship. In addition to idolatry, other sins denounced by Hosea included social injustice, violent crime, religious hypocrisy, political rebellion, dependence upon foreign alliances, selfish arrogance, and spiritual ingratitude. In the eyes of God it was the "worst of times." And although a loving and caring God had provided their abundance and prosperity, their sin, disloyalty and abandonment of Him would force Him to vindicate His justice with judgment.
The issue of homosexuality has made headlines throughout the year, starting with the Episcopal church's decision to recognize the blessing of same-sex unions and the confirmation of a gay Episcopal bishop. Then there was the opening of a gay high school in New York and renewed controversy over gay marriage.
America is in the midst of a moral dilemma. So why hasn't God judged America? The parallels in the Bible, both in Hosea and elsewhere, would suggest that it is long overdue. One possible answer is God's commitment in Genesis 12:2-3, in which He promises Abraham that He "will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee." It may well be that America has been spared from God's wrath because of its support of Israel. Will it continue? We must also remember Nineveh. This pagan capital ruled the world for several centuries. And it was scheduled for God's judgment. It was 40 days from "ground zero!" Then God called Jonah, the Reluctant Prophet. He wasn't excited about the assignment until God explained it to him a bit more clearly.
And Jonah wasn't very tactful in his message: "Forty days and you get yours!" Then, the biggest miracle in the Old Testament occurred: within those forty days: the king on down all repented! And the kingdom was spared for almost another century! God, we must remember, is in the miracle business...
God has declared His clear and exciting principle:
If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
This is not addressed to our President, our Congress, or our population in general: It is addressed to "My people, who are called by my name." It is addressed to the Body of Christ.
If we will humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways - then He will forgive our sin and heal our land. We need a national revival - but it must begin with you and me. It is our sin that is standing in the way of what God would prefer to do: to have America continue as a beachhead for the Gospel to a hurting world.
