“AMERICA, AMERICA, GOD SHED HIS GRACE . . .”

America has indisputably been blessed by God because America had God’s Foundation on God’s Word, even before the Revolution, and we called upon Him throughout our history.
American Exceptionalism, on display for all human history.

IN GOD WE TRUSTED
GOD BLESSED AMERICA

As I was reading the Bible chapters for the previous article, SO YOU WISH THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT, I was particularly caught by Ezekiel 20.
It is different from the chapter before and after chapter 20.
It is straightforward and clear to follow, as it reviews God’s perspective on leading the people of Israel.
And it struck me so black and white, thinking about America as I read how God dealt with Israel so severely, because He cared for them so deeply.
He would not let them go, even when they turned from worshipping Him.
He had to turn them back, to bring them back, for the sake of His Name, because He had broadcast to the world that Israel was His “chosen” of all people.

There may not be a Biblical record of America being similarly chosen by God of all nations, but there is abundant circumstantial evidence of His hand in the affairs of this country from day one.
For starters, our founding documents were inspired and written by people anointed by God with Bible principles for governing by the people, that go back long before the Declaration.
This had never been done before.
Others have eloquently reviewed hundreds of details in the rest of the American story, that have God’s handprint.

My question here is this:
After all God has done for this country, and through this country, I don’t know if God feels obligated to send what it takes that will turn us around and bring us back to Him in true repentance, like He always did for Israel ?

Then . . . He caused Israel to ‘disappear’ after nearly four millennia, and now . . .

He may, He can, cause America to disappear after nearly four centuries.
He is obligated to do something—judgment—serious, swift, complete, undeniable, unavoidable judgment.

Can God be influenced in any way at this late hour ?

For sure, we cannot expect another reprieve—like 2016-2020, which was an answer to many prayers—without a fundamental change in America to God.

Back to a similar time in history, God said He would have spared Sodom for a few righteous—50, 40, 30, 20, 10—3 was not enough.

In America today, I’m afraid we have a mistaken notion of what it means to be righteous, one of the remnant, those Jesus knows, His people, humble, praying, seeking His face, seeing our specific wickedness to get rid of.

We get used to Bible verses on sin and repentance and teaching on them, and we think we satisfied them.
But we expect to avoid anyone that gets personal about my sin and points a finger in my face and says, “You’re the man.”
Daddy did that, and people did not want to hear it, and preachers hated him, and wanted him gone, and one called on God to kill him.
It cost Daddy to speak against evil in the church, in Christians, repeating Jesus’ words.
It cost John the Baptist to confront the Jewish King Herod for his sexual sin, telling him it was unlawful.
It cost Dietrich Bonhoeffer to confront the church that condoned Hitler, finally getting caught plotting to kill Hitler.

When evil gets bad enough close to home, pacifists become activists.
When sin slaps us in the face, we say something (or do we?).
When Jesus’ words convict us, we stop laying up treasures on earth (or do we?).
When Jesus tells us to get rid of our stuff—because that’s where our heart is—in order to follow Him, do we ?

Living too long accustomed to the good things Sodom had to offer, Lot’s wife’s heart was there.
Even after God sent His angels for escape, she had to ‘just look’ at what she had to leave behind.
The cost was too great for her to leave it all, and it cost her EVERYTHING.
What is the cost to American Christians of what God is calling us to leave behind now ?
What greater cost when we just can’t do it ?

Do we think we can continue with all the good things we have going, in each of our lives, and still follow Jesus with our whole heart ?
Sounds like the deadly rationale of Lot and his family in Sodom.
They chose to live there, and they lived well there—too well, too comfortable.
We are living in Sodom—times ten.

– – –

Something has got to register.
WE’VE GOT TO BE DIFFERENT—DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT !
OR ELSE ?

God may not save America.

God will judge America, severely, now.

God will judge His people in America, for “anyone loving the things of this world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

SO YOU WISH THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT ?

Ok, list five ways you wish the world was different.

For each of the five, list something you can do that will change the world to make it different, like you wish it was.

Now, will you do those five things ?

Will that change the world ?
Will you make the world different, the way you want it ?

Honestly, the answer may be no.
Or, you may have to claim you made a small part of the world different like you wish.
Isn’t that what everyone has to settle for, basically ?
Except for dictators and militant religious fanatics that kill to meet their wishes for the world to be different.
So far even their wishes don’t change the world for long.
But they keep trying.
And that’s why the world is shaping up for one more attempt to change the whole world to meet the wishes of ‘someone’.
– – –
There are always others wishing the world was different—but different from your wishes for different.

So, does wishing, and acting on one’s wishes, make the world different ?
In 6000 years of history the world really hasn’t changed, at least not for the better overall.
– – –
Actually, most wishing the world was different is just a chance to complain.
While some may identify with your complaint, we all quickly grow weary of bemoaning, groaning, and complaining that doesn’t do a bit of good.
Even God got fed up with His Chosen People over their grumbling (after multiple miracles of deliverance and multiple miracles of provision), and He took severe action numerous times to teach them a thing or two.
Then they came around—repented—for a little bit.
Then . . .

Their problem . . .
The problem with all of us human beings is this:
Repent is followed by Repeat.

But here is hope:
If God is involved in our life, in our heart, then there is always room for
Repent followed by Repeat followed by Repent again.

This pattern (with Israel) is related in the Bible several times, and it gives us comfort when we see our own miserable human condition, and it reminds us to take God’s justice and His provision and the fear of the Lord seriously.
We serve the same God that led the Israelites—He chose them, and He chose us by His mercy* and grace.*

Please read these three chapters, that give a dramatic review of God’s care for Israel—deliverance, provision, judgment, forgiveness, blessing, and repeat.
Psalm 78
Ezekiel 20
Psalm 106

*His mercy—not getting what we deserve from God
*grace—getting what we don’t deserve from God

WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING

If the ‘Me’ in the above statement is Jesus, then:

“Without Me you can do nothing” means God called you to do something, as long as you don’t try to do it without Jesus”.

LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT . . . ?

Lord, what do You want me to do ?
Lord, what do You want me [to do] ?
Lord, what do You want me . . . ?
Lord, what do You want—me ?

– – –

Yes, I want YOU—your heart, your mind, your plans—surrendered to Me, so I can then show you My plan for you for today, and direct your path to do it, with freedom and peace.
Then, proceed, but don’t worry !