Crossroads
I noticed an interesting comparison between some verses in Proverbs 1 and Romans 1. These two passages say that at some point, when a nation has disdained God's truth for too long, when it has abandoned seeking wisdom from its protector - God - and begun relying on its own truths, the people of that nation are headed for this: 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. [Pro 1:28 ESV]. This says there is a point of no return. That's Old Testament. Here is the New Testament version: 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. [Rom 1:24-25 ESV]. Both verses make the same point. God can only be denigrated for so long, and then he will just turn his back and walk away. He will leave us to the end that reliance on human intelligence has led throughout history. Even Israel did this. It is why she fell in 586 BC and again in AD 70. Is it just me, or does it seems like a LOT of countries today are standing at this crossroad between human intelligence and God's word? Even though reliance on human wisdom, insight, and intelligence has failed every time so far, here is another generation too smart to take lessons from the past, too arrogant to submit to something greater than themselves, too wise in their own eyes to listen instead of talk. The Bible teaches that a nation's prosperity is proportional to its commitment to God's truth. The Bible shows that it has always been that way. We may be about to see that it is STILL that way.
When I read these verses, I think "Yep, I can see that coming, we're just about there." Or "It's about time, I don't know why He's waited this long!?" Here's the scary part - the part I don't usually think about...When we read about nations that end because God withdraws from them, there is never any provision for the few devout believers that are in those nations. When God says enough then all in that nation suffer the same bitter end. There were believers in Jerusalem when Babylon broke down the walls in 586 BC. There were believers there when Titus set the Temple Mount alight in 70 AD. Seems to me that we need to be very careful of thinking that if the country implodes we can escape the consequences. We will not. If the nation starves, Christians will starve with it. If the grid goes down, the lights in the home of the best Christians we know will go out, just like ours will. Perhaps that is the problem. Perhaps too many Christians think that the "bad" people will get what they deserve, and the good people will emerge to lead them. Show me a Bible story that teaches that? I'm not saying there isn't one, but if there is, I can't think of it. I don't think we appreciate the full implications of Romans 1 and Proverbs 1. These verses are about whole nations, not individuals. When God withdraws, the consequences rain down on everyone. To the very last man.
The even scarier part? Maybe we've already made our crossroads decision and we are far down the wrong road. Maybe the things we're seeing in this country are not warnings, but consequences starting to show up. This is the first time in my life I've ever seen empty grocery store shelves. First time I've seen people brag about their perversions and then get elected to public office. Those just might be signs that we are already beyond help.
So...what should Christians do, if it is already too late? Shall we send missionaries to the coasts? I mean, don't we think that's where the heathens are? Is that right, or is that more about Republicans and Democrats? The only way to change this is to change individual people - and enough of them - to make this a Christian nation again...if it's not already too late. Is it possible to go back to the point where it was shameful to have a baby out of wedlock? The time when no man wanted to be known as the guy who got that poor girl pregnant and then wouldn't marry her? Can we go back to where homosexuality was so shameful that no one who publicly confessed it could get hired? Or...does just reading about these old attitudes make us feel judgmental, uncomfortable and awkward for being heartless, cold, unfeeling zealots unworthy of calling ourselves Christians? I'm not saying those attitudes were right...but weren't they closer than what we have going on today? And should we really feel bad about calling these things sins? Do we want to live in a nation that calls these things sin? If not...I think there is a real possibility that the crossroads are way behind us!
Really, what exactly should we do if it is too late? Should we leave? Where would we even go? Should we "prep" for the dark cold nights and fortify our homes so we can kill the hungry instead of feed them? Surely we need to consider these things?