I’m scared for America. At some point, the sins of this nation will reach a tipping point and the Lord God will unleash His fierce judgment. That half a million people have died from the virus could very well be the beginnings of the judgment of the Lord. I especially worry about the younger generations. What kind of country will they inherit in 20-30 years? History has taught us that even mighty empires, like Rome, can fall.
While I don’t believe America was founded as a purely Christian nation, it’s clear that the Word of God played a significant role in shaping us. Many of the founding fathers were Christian. The early days of America were a mix of good and evil. There existed a desire in many (Puritans) to honor God. But the beginnings were also stained by racism, slavery and violence against the natives who were occupying the land. In 1776, after mounting tensions with their mother country, England, the American Revolution began. For eight years blood was spilt on American ground as thousands died.
Despite the messiness of our foundations, the Lord chose to lavish our nation in so many ways. We have had some of the greatest historic revivals of any nation in the world. There was the first and second Great Awakening, the revivals around New York in the mid-1800s, Azusa Street revival at the start of the twentieth century, the massive healing crusades and Billy Graham crusades of the mid-century (1900’s) and the more recent Jesus Movement of the 70’s. The land is strewn with churches and seminaries. Bibles are abundant. Out of America has been born thousands of charity organizations. Missionaries have been sent out all over the globe to advance the Gospel. The Lord has given America much light—“God shed His grace on thee.”
America is one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations on earth. I believe that the blessings we enjoy are a result of those in previous generations who lived godly and prayed earnestly. Our history was graced with thousands upon thousands of men and women who labored in prayer and lived in alignment with God’s laws. They stood in the gap for the nation and God answered their prayers.
Today
But what about today? I’ve only lived a little over 50 years but I’ve seen a dramatic breakdown of morality in my lifetime. Some friends of mine, John and Rona, gave me a little book of interesting facts about 1967 which is the year I was born. It makes me cry reading it. It’s not that society was perfect back that—not at all! But there was much more decency, respect, modesty and integrity than today. The popular TV shows were The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy. Today, 50ish years later, there is a terrible flood of filth coming right into people’s homes through the tv, computer and even the small rectangular devices they carry with them everywhere.
I don’t want to depress you too much but America is on thin ice. We have fueled the sex trafficking industry and we consume more pornography than any other nation. We have exploited the environment and the poor of the earth. We have killed millions of unborn children. Our streets are filled with violence. There’s rape, child molestation, police brutality, stealing, cheating, adultery, fornication and lying—so much lying, on every level. Our young people abuse alcohol and drugs. Many teens are in bondage to porn. The majority of Americans have either rejected Jesus Christ or identify as Christian but disregard the commands of God. We have not only embraced homosexuality but it is now celebrated in countless churches across the land.
Tipping point
At what point does God say, “enough”? How long will the Lord let things go on as they are? America is not getting better but is waxing worse and worse every year. Whether the Democrats or the Republicans control the government doesn’t matter. It’s all corrupt. Why would we think that we can do the things we do as a nation without consequences? This verse gives a little insight:
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. — Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the Lord is patient and delays His wrath, people imagine that blessings will continue. In the days of Noah God waited 120 years before sending the flood that wiped out all the inhabitants of the land. Even when it started raining the door of the ark was open for a while and anyone could have run in. God is so merciful! But the point came when God Himself shut the door. That was the point when mercy ended and judgment began.
Goodness and severity
I was reading through Ezekiel 9-22 earlier today and just listening to how God viewed the people. It’s way too long to include here but I challenge you to read some of it. It’s so easy to make God into what we want Him to be. We do this by either not reading the Bible at all, or by only reading the sweet parts. But we have to take in both the goodness and the severity of the Lord. Reading through the chapters in Ezekiel almost made me feel ill. Though God was speaking about Israel, it was hard not to think about our nation. If God was perceiving Israel’s sin in a way that provoked Him to wrath and moved Him to set in motion unthinkable fierce judgments—why would He spare America? Consider this description of Israel by God and think about the parallels to America.
And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. "And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' I said to you in your blood, 'Live! I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare. "When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. — Ezekiel 16:4-15
I want to make it clear I’m not saying Ezekiel is speaking directly of America. I’m also not trying to prophesy about America. But everything written in the Scriptures is there to help us understand the ways of God. There are hundreds of examples to show us what kind of actions result in God’s blessings and what provokes God to judge. We should read the biblical accounts in light of America’s evils and tremble. Again, why would God judge Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel, the nations surrounding Israel, and so on, but overlook the sins of America? We know that in the near future God will release the greatest of all judgments upon all evil everywhere on the earth, as predicted in the book of revelation.
Again, the chapters are long and I can’t include it all here but set aside 30 minutes and read at least chapters 16-22. I agree it is hard to stomach but it has a way of deepening the fear of God in us and driving us to prayer. There’s one verse that maybe you’ve heard preached on in chapter 22 that is sobering. I’ll give you the verses before it to help give context:
Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD." — Ezekiel 22:26-31
The wrath of God is coming upon this world. The curtain of God’s blessing is closing. America’s days are numbered. Is there any way to turn the tide? Can America be spared for the sake of our children and grandchildren? Is there any hope?
Call to intercession
The Lord always seeks for men and women who will stand in the gap before the Lord on behalf of the people and cry, “spare Your people!” Moses did this when God was ready to crush His own people after they worshipped the golden calf. Moses interceded and the Lord relented. Throughout Bible and Church history men and women have labored in prayer for their generation to hold back the wrath of God. May we be intercessors in this moment of history!
Do you think your prayers are not powerful? If you are a Christian my friend then the Spirit of the Lord is upon You. Christ Himself lives in you and He is mighty in intercession. Your prayers are not merely your prayers! We are vessels. God flows through us and prays through us. Oh my friends, the wrath of God is coming upon the earth. Multitudes are not ready. It’s time to seek the Lord on behalf of this nation that God would pour out His mercies!
O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. — Habakkuk 3:2