I wished to myself when I woke up this morning that we had a prophet like Isaiah to help us understand what is happening.
Then, of course, I realized we do have Isaiah. And we have history. We have the cycle of the Israelites to teach us, and the cycles of great human civilizations.
Ancient cultures like Egypt, Rome, and Greece all eventually collapsed because the people gave themselves over to idolatry and sexual debauchery.
Among followers of the God of the Bible there may be a similar cycle, but there is always a remnant that holds fast to Him, whom He protects and restores.
Here is the cycle of the Israelites:
It appears the United States is approaching the “Oppression, Depression, War” phase. We don’t know whether we are on a trajectory of doom and demise, like Rome, or if we as a nation will allow ourselves to be restored by turning back to God. Either way, the immediate future on the circle looks bleak.
And I think we’re on the former path. Our educational and court systems and dominant media have all been absconded by secular liberals. Both the Catholic and Protestant Churches are failing to pass on Christian beliefs to our children, never mind expand the number of believers.
Last night, for the first time, voters in not just one but two states – Maine and Maryland – approved same sex marriage, after 32 defeats around the country. Voters in Colorado and Washington approved the legalization of marijuana. Incredibly, a measure in Florida to prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion failed. “Welcome to Liberal America,” is the Buzzfeed headline today.
I know some measures and elections went our way, but I think it is clear our country is facing more than just a fiscal cliff. We are also facing a moral cliff.
The reelection last night of Barack Obama means either 1) there are more secularists in the U.S. than Christians, or 2) too many Christians have integrated the “separation of Church and State” into their hearts and compartmentalize their votes according to a) selfish desires, or b) misunderstanding the role of government.
It is likely a combination of both 1 and 2. Had the “Chick-fil-A’ bloc indeed voted as a bloc, I wouldn’t be typing this post. Here are the current raw numbers:
Obama: 59,532,820 votes
Romney: 56,931,709 votes
God did not deliver us from Barack Obama. I wrote yesterday that our country doesn’t deserve God’s mercy, but I asked Him for respite anyway. He didn’t give it. There has apparently been too much innocent blood shed in America, and too much craven behavior. I mean, come on, this country has killed 55 million children by abortion this past 40 years.
On the pro-life front we have a Democrat Party that proudly promotes abortion, even if coded as “reproductive health,” and which successfully attacks Republicans on the issue. This is because Republicans, generally speaking, are either terrified to discuss abortion, pro-abortion themselves, or utterly inarticulate.
I’m hearing talk on Fox this morning that the Republican Party needs to deemphasize its stand against abortion, never mind that the percentage of Americans calling themselves “pro-choice” is at an historic low of 41%.
The fact is Republicans just got outboxed, which was easy since by-and-large Republicans just play rope-a-dope on the abortion issue.
Republicans must seriously reach out to the African-American and Latino communities. The GOP’s dismissal of them is shameful, not just because doing so hurts the Party politically, but also because doing so fails to help these dear people uphold a more holistic way of life.
Ah, but enough politics. In closing I refer back to what Erick Erickson of RedState.com wrote the weekend before the election:
My world view is pretty simple. I think this world is destined to go to hell in a hand basket by design. I think things are supposed to go to pot. So if Barack Obama wins, I won’t be upset. If Mitt Romney wins, I won’t be running through the streets cheering. I think, either way, it is all part of the design. The world is going down hill. Barack Obama re-elected just gets us down the slippery slope faster in my view. For others, it is Mitt Romney who does.
God is sovereign and He is in charge and He will return. That is my hope and my ever present expectation.
We often get so wrapped up in the view of things at ground level, we forget to look at the world from 50,000 feet. In the historic, grand scheme of things, this too will end.
Don’t confuse me with a fatalist and don’t confuse me with someone who does not really care about the future of our nation. I think we are the last best hope of mankind on this planet. But my destiny is not tied to this planet. While I am here, however, I have convictions that are greater than either candidate and either party and I fight more for a cause than a candidate….
When I wake up on Wednesday morning, I’m still going to have my wife. I’m still going to have my kids. I’m still going to have my family. And I’m still going to have my God. So will you….
There is no permanence except in Heaven.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. ~ Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV
One other thing. At times like this I always go back to Genesis 50:20, what Joseph told his brothers who had sold him into slavery:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
This is all part of God’s plan. And I trust it’s a perfect one, for the ultimate purpose of “saving many lives,” a pro-life goal.
[“Divided States” graphic via Drudge]
Reprinted with permission from JillStanek.com
