America 250

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. It is also the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. I’m proud to be an American.

I still think it’s the greatest country in the world because it has been blessed by God. Yes, there is much darkness in our past, in the way people of color have been treated. Things are much better for some, but the remnants of suffering remain for some people groups.

There is much excitement and ballyhoo over the fact that America has existed for 250 years. But there are many similarities between America and the Roman Empire. Its downfall came from within because of its idolatry, evil, debauchery, sin, and carnality. My fear that the USA may be headed in the same direction. Our culture celebrates things that God clearly calls sin. We have legalized things that God calls abominable. We have even tried to redefine God's institution of marriage between a man and a woman.

With the current conflict going on in the Middle East, I have been thinking about the end times scenario laid out in the scriptures. It's interesting that when it comes to prophecy, there is no mention of the United States. Some Bible scholars think either the United States will no longer exist or will become an irrelevant third world nation.

I also think about the nation of Israel, how God blessed them gave them a land, with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, or the sand on the seashore. God told Abraham that the whole world would be blessed through him. And God always keeps his covenant promises. His promise to Abraham is ultimately fulfilled through Jesus Christ who came to seek and to save all who will follow Him.

The history of Biblical Israel is so very discouraging.  God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, provided miracles for them through 40 years in the wilderness, and brought them into the Promised Land. They were instructed to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Israel was supposed to be a light to the surrounding nations. Instead of driving out the pagan nations they joined with them in their pagan idolatry. They became guilty of injustice, immorality, and idolatry. God sent prophet after prophet to warn them and encourage them to repent and turn back to God.

Even before Israel entered the Promised Land, God promised blessings if they obeyed and curses if they failed to obey. But they did not listen. And so, God did exactly what He told him He would do. He sent their enemies, the Assyrians and the Babylonians to conquer them and take them into exile. To this day, Israel remains in conflict with the surrounding nations. Maybe it's because of their disobedience to drive out all the inhabitants when they entered the land.

No matter what the world says, America was founded on biblical principles. All of our founding fathers believed in God. Some of them were Christians, some were deists, but they all believed in the Creator. God has blessed this country because we embraced the gospel and have sent missionaries around the world to be witnesses for Jesus. But today, we need missionaries to come to America.

Our children have been taught to deny the Creator and believe in evolution. Many have been deceived into thinking there are many ways to God, or that your kindness and good deeds will secure your place in heaven. But the only way to be reconciled to God and enter heaven, is to repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Unless we repent, America is headed for the same fate as the Roman Empire and the Biblical nation of Israel. Maybe there's hope for America. Maybe it's not too late to turn around. God is merciful and gracious. That's who He is and that is what He is. We should give heed to what He told Israel in the Old Testament. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 He said, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. America needs to be healed.

May those of us who are God's people humble ourselves, because God gives grace to the humble. May we pray for our leaders, instead of just criticizing everything they do. May we seek the face of God and live by his standards and principles found in the Bible. May we turn from our wicked ways and stop buying into this world system. If we do, then there's hope that God will heal the United States of America.