Posted on 02/18/2004 8:39:20 AM PST by Vernon
“Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible with Apocrypha. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
This was the history of Israel at a pivotal point in their history. Joshua is about to depart and he knows the future of the nation depends on the decision they make about serving God. The history of Israel should be a very clear warning to all generations about the choices they make.
The decision to follow God meant life, national health, and a rich future.
The decision to follow other gods meant freedom Freedom to do what they wanted: in business, in social relationships, in international relations. There was also the opportunity to indulge in various and unique religions…Ba’al, Ashtaroth, Chemosh, Moloch, and others, and indeed, nothing was withheld from them.
The fact of life is that there are consequences to conduct. Religious adultery not only involved worshipping gods that did not exist instead of the One Living God, but resulted in immorality and licentiousness that featured temple prostitution – both male and female. The depth of depravity was reached at the point when human infant sacrifice began.
There is a valley immediately south of Jerusalem known as the Valley of Hinnom, or ben Himmom. It was also known as the Valley of Tophet (Jeremiah 7:31) which in the Hebrew means “spitting in the face,” where the infants were sacrificed and drums were beaten loudly to cover the cries of the dying infants! Jeremiah put it this way, And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
There is a direct parallel between a nation’s rejecting respect and worship of God and that nation sliding into sexual perversion and immorality. The history of any nation can be traced by whether it follows or departs from respect and worship of God. The trash heap of history is rife with examples of nations that have turned their backs on God.
The time for decision in America is here, if in fact, not past.
There is a concern with the breakdown of the family.
There is clear evidence of promiscuity.
It is now illegal to have symbols of Christianity in public places in many areas of the country.
Sin against human nature is flaunted by homosexuals determined to have a perverse relationship and to have their practice declared “normal” and given legal status -- with any protest against such conduct being declared as “hate speech.” Incidentally, DSM IV cannot define sin against nature – that is done by scripture.
While a nation fights against terrorists for it’s own life, freedom, and human rights, politicians denigrate a leader who has firm convictions and demonstrated leadership, and instead, they pander to one known for his treasonous conduct.
I do not know what tomorrow may bring, but I do know that the reality of tomorrow will result from decisions made today. The words of James Russell Lowell have never rung louder than today:
In a modern statement by Dr. Seuss:
America is in the balances!
I agree.
This nation has been "hanging in the balance" many times, such as before George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards preached during the Great Awakening, or during the War of Northern Aggression, or during the early 20th century. Unfortunately, the Church went into something of a hibernation after WWII and allowed secularism to morph into full blown paganism. It will not be an easy row to hoe, but the Church has realize we are in a war, and to engage the enemy.
Oh good. I can sleep now.
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
Amen, Vern. Well-stated; we each are responsible for the honor we accord God and country...in that order. We ignore Him at our peril. History attests to this. Nations fragment and disperse like dry leaves when not watered by His Word.
Perhaps the door to God's mercy is not quite closed...
As you know, some of us on these threads believe that God is in control of his creation, and has known from the foundation of the world who would receive His mercy.
This fact doesn't make us complacent. Just the opposite, it energizes us and gives us confidence that everything ultimately happens in order to glorify His name.
It's difficult to see this sometimes when we're submerged in all the muck and error, but nothing can defeat Him.
As Christians we should attest to His glory every day of our lives, and work to erase the growing forces of depravity.
Yet America's future is the same as our own -- in His hands.
The Puritans had a lot of things right, one you agree with in that statement, as do I.
I think the postmill view encourages us to be more active in cleaning up the earth and helping our brothers and sisters. I like that.
Knowing the end of the story encourages us to keep reading and maybe to read out loud, too.
Worldviews are EVERYTHING!
Jesus put the 'blam' where it belongs.
He said it was the 'lawyers' fault.
(You CANNOT serve God (mercy/truth) and ungodly mammon.)
The point of real power is the Supreme Court 9. (AKA the ACLU 9)
Worldviews are EVERYTHING......
Magic:........profiting in the evil of denying absolute mercy/truth.
Woe unto you______.......
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