The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

* The Best of Times, the Worst of Times by Dr. D. James Kennedy

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” These familiar words open Charles Dickens’ great novel, A Tale of Two Cities, which was set in Paris in 1789, just at the beginning of the French Revolution. It was a time of great turmoil in that country. As we consider where our nation is spiritually, I think Dickens’ description is apt.

America was unquestionably founded as a Christian nation, as the Supreme Court once admitted, “This is a religious people. This is a Christian nation.” Well, that’s the way it started.

The people in New England, when they got together in the early days of this country, signed the New England Confederation, in which they said, “We all came into these parts of America for one and the same end and aim.” Do you remember what that was? They said that one single aim was “to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I am sure that many people would be just shocked to hear that, and yet that is where we started. Unfortunately, because we have failed to share the Gospel consistently and frequently, there have been a growing number of people who have not known Christ, who know nothing about His kingdom, have never entered in, and wouldn’t even know how. Consequently, the number of unbelievers in this country has grown tremendously, while the percentage of believers has declined.

Let us pray for revival!

Lord of history, we have seen how You have guided nations as well as individuals. We pray for our nation, which started so well. Bring us back to Yourself and give us the gift of repentance…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, EMPIRES RISE AND FALL.

* This prayer for revival in the United States should be prayed by every believing American and citizens of other nations should be praying also for a mighty revival in their countries.  

The Word of God tells us that "things shall wax worse and worse and then the end shall come," yet we long to see people of faith increasing in number and in influence.  We yearn to see TRUTH wash over and revitalize our land from shore to shore.  We long to see JESUS exalted throughout the earth.  We pray to see many souls won into His glorious Kingdom before it's too late.