Judgment Day

Unless you’ve successfully avoided all media outlets, people and conversations, you’ve no doubt seen or heard the turmoil our nation is in. [Before I go any further, this is not meant to question political or civil obedience; it is meant to question Spiritual obedience. Please refrain from comments blaming one party or the other.] I’ve been struggling with watching what’s going on all over our nation. Between the pandemic (and the multiple viewpoints that so blatantly disagree with each other), and the riots and destruction—the common denominator I see is that we are a far land from fearing God anymore. We’re so concerned with “proving” our side’s ‘truth’ about 1) this virus (the cause, the transmission, the severity) and 2) racial issues (the history, the prevalence, the admonition), that we’ve ignored the actual Truth. This world is filled with sin. That may sound trite and simplistic, but that’s what’s at the heart of it all. 

"The further our nation distances itself from [Christian] principals, the further the people distance themselves from God."  

Is God judging our nation as He judged Egypt and Israel? It certainly can seem that way. Remember all the plagues God cast on Egypt because of the slavery of His people? How about Isaiah’s and Amos’ prophecies on Israel? God cast judgment on the people that were disobeying Him and leading His people astray. Do you see a correlation? America claims to be founded on Christian principals [founded in, not enforcement of]. And the further our nation distances itself from such principals, the further the people distance themselves from God. Our hearts are being hardened. Whether it’s through the incessant display of violence and sin in the media, or our own lack of knowing and following God’s Word, we’re at a crucial point in time where we need to choose whose direction we’re going to follow: God or the world? Our nation (and this world in general) certainly seem to be living in chronic rebellion of God’s Word. The big question is: Will God judge us as He did Israel (Isaiah 6:9-13)? The bigger question is: Will any of us remain a loyal seed (Isaiah 6:13)? 

 

No matter how many times God [mercifully] warned Israel (Amos 3:7), they failed to learn their lesson. They no longer knew how to do what was right (Amos 3:10; Amos 4). [Sound familiar?] God promises to preserve His people (Psalm 37:39-40; Psalm 121:7; Amos 9:8). If we are faithful to Him, He will show us mercy (Lamentations 3:22; Luke 1:50; 1 John 1:9; 2 John 1:3). There is only One Way (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:23) to remedy this nation, the world, and our hearts: repentance (Acts 3:19; Amos 5:6; Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:9). Until we return to God, we will continue to see His judgment (Jeremiah 3:12; Joel 2:12-14; Amos 4:6; Amos 5:6). 

 

"There is only One Way to remedy this nation, the world, and our hearts: repentance. Until we return to God, we will continue to see His judgment." 

Is there an Isaiah among us (Isaiah 6:8)? Do you hear God calling you to stand up for Him in these times (Isaiah 7:9b)? Who will obey like Amos (Amos 7:14)? Or do we disconnect ourselves from the happenings and stay in our safe places (Amos 6:1-6)? Numerically speaking, ‘few’ of us are physically facing the virus and the riots. But have we become complacent in our comfortable (so-to-speak) lifestyles that we think we are safe? God has no use for us in our selfishness and indifference. Our apathy makes us no different than the Israelites; or non-believers for that matter.

"Have we become complacent in our comfortable (so-to-speak) lifestyles that we think we are safe? God has no use for us in our selfishness and indifference." 

 

The two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31) are to 1) love God and 2) love your neighbors. We think that we have #1 down. But mistakenly ignoring command #2, we are in essence ignoring command #1 (Romans 13:9-10; 1 John 4:20-21). History (American and Biblical) is repeating itself. Will we continue to lounge on our couches, or will we offer ourselves to be used? Will we remain apathetic and complacent in our comfortable lives, or will we step out of our comfort zone and speak up in truth, with compassion?