Will God Do It Again?

When you read about the the people of Israel from the time they left Egypt until their final return from captivity, you have to wonder what on earth they were thinking when it came to their relationship with the Lord.  The people griped right from the get-go as they left Egypt.  They lost sight of who had performed great and mighty signs from Egypt to the promised land.

Then, as you recall, the Israelites finally settled in the land of “milk and honey” and again soon forgot all the great wonders Yahweh had performed in getting them there so that they could take over cities and homes they did not build and vineyards they did not plant. In response, the Lord sent armies to inflict punishment on them because of their desire to follow after and do detestable acts for gods made of wood and stone. Time and time again they cried to the Lord for help and he would send relief.  After Joshua died, the judges would rescue the people from their enemies, one after another.  As soon as a judge would die, the people would go right back to their gods of wood and stone.  Finally, they started down a new path where they rejected the Lord as their king and instead demanded an earthly king to fight their wars and take care of them. Some of these kings were god-fearing but most did evil, leading the people to follow after gods of wood and stone.

The United States was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles yet today the signers of the Declaration of Independence would have trouble recognizing many, if not most, of our practices and our lack of religious zeal, especially from our leaders and judges.  For most of those who still hold that Jehovah God, Father of Jesus Christ, exists, He at best plays second fiddle in their lives.  The “god” of most Americans exists in money, power, and pleasure.  These have become our “gods of wood and stone.”

I do not know if God "will do it again" and turn His back on us and allow the United States to fail.  I pray He does not.  I remember the story of Abraham when he was told that Sodom and Gomorra would not be destroyed if but ten righteous people could be found.  If God chooses to allow us to fail, I do not know if He will rescue us from the hands of the enemy.  However, I do know that He loves us and has provided everyone with a path to salvation through Jesus.  Only you and I can reject God’s offer of salvation by turning our backs and clinging to the “gods of wood and stone.”

The story is only the beginning for those who accept our Lord’s invitation to follow Jesus.  Regardless of what happens in this life, to this country, or to this world, God is in charge and will take care of his children.  When I think about the majesty and greatness of God, I cannot help but remember the words of the song “Father and Friend, Thy Light” penned by John Bowring.

Father and Friend, Thy Light, Thy Love,

  Beaming thro’ all Thy works we see;

Thy glory gilds the heav’ns above,

  And all the earth is full of Thee.

Thy voice we hear, Thy presence feel,

  While Thou, too pure for mortal sight,

Enwrapt in clouds, invisible,

  Reignest the Lord of light and life.

Thy children shall not faint nor fear,

  Sustained by this delightful tho’t;

Since Thou, their God, art ev’rywhere,

  They cannot be where Thou art not.

WOW! They cannot be where Thou art not!

Father, you are our great and wonderful King.  We approach you through your blessed son Jesus in whom we all have hope and redemption.  We beg you to not forsake our nation for the sake of the righteous.  We beg you to help us be your servants and bring the saving grace of Jesus to the lost and dying of our country so that we can be a light to the world. Please let not your Holy Spirit leave us. Let it be so.

Paul Schulze

Stephenville