Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Do We Care?

March 3

Some people believe that judgment is coming to the United States. Their argument is compelling. They ask: How can our Holy God continue to overlook the wanton disregard for His law and His authority and His Savior? His wrath may be held back for a season, to allow many lost souls the opportunity to find Christ as their Redeemer and Lord, but surely, He will not tarry His return much longer.

In Habakkuk 1:5-7, 11, He says, “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told.

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs. They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves...whose strength is their god."

On September 11, 2001 God removed His "hedge" for the briefest of moments to give strong warning to the people of the United States. “So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground." Isaiah 5:5.

In his election victory speech on November 4, 2008 newly elected president Barak Obama made the statement, "Change has come to America:" What Mr. Obama did not realize was that God was speaking through him prophetically. The more practical meaning of what the new American president said was this: "Judgment has come to The United States of America."

About 2,700 years ago God raised up a man by the name of Isaiah to prophesy coming judgment on ancient Israel. The reason for God's judgment was expressed in Six Woes:

Woe #1: Greed. Covetousness. Self-indulgence.

"Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field, until there is no more room, so that you have to live alone in the midst of the land!" -Isaiah 5:8

Woe #2: Drunken Revelry and Disregard for God's Word.

"Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His hands." -Isaiah 5:11-12

Woe #3: Defiant Mockery of God.

"Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes; Who say, 'Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come to pass, that we may know it!'" -Isaiah 5:18-19

Woe #4: Moral Perversion.

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" -Isaiah 5:20

Woe #5: Unrestrained Arrogance.

"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight!" -Isaiah 5:21

Woe #6: Corrupt Leadership.

"Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!" -Isaiah 5:22-23


Do we care? Does it matter to us that the God who has blessed us through our brief history among the nations of men has specified the areas of His displeasure with us? Can we repent—turn around from our wicked ways? Can we renew our commitment to the Christ who set us free and established us as a free and prosperous nation? Can we be revived? Can we come alive again with hope and truth and faith and love?


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