Well, the Christmas season is past for another year. But this is not in reference to a Christmas carol. As I stood listening to the morning news last month, I thought--"do you see what I see?" and not in reference to the song.
"Have you seen this, O Son of man." (Ezekiel 8.17). That's what the Lord asked Ezekiel. He said further, "Is it a trivial thing...to commit the abominations they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger."
Last month, two weeks before Christmas, as I stood in my bedroom in the morning listening to the news and all that was going on in the world, especially the negativity, I heard those words, the same as the Christmas carol--"Do You See What I See?" I wondered if others see what I see...happening all around us...on a daily basis...all across the nation...little by little...year in and year out. Of course. But, moreover, do we see what He sees?
America is a great nation. Probably the greatest of all time--in all history. Look at her historic struggles and triumphs, her order and organization, her natural resources and financial strength. Do you know there are still countries, many countries, that do not have running water or the effluency of a sanitary sewer system. Some counties have sewage that still runs through troughs in the streets with unsanitary holes and shallow ditches on the outskirts of town. Not so in America. We are a clean machine. It would be unthinkable that we would wear a soiled shirt (or dress or pants) more than once. We take many things for granted. We don't hunt or grow our own food...Rather, we drive less than 5 miles (most of us) to the corner market and replace whatever is negligible in our refrigerator or pantry. We certainly don't shiver uncontrollably at the winter seasons' onslaught or melt into a blob under the scorching sun on a midsummer day. No, we have resolved those problems. And it would not be 21st century at all for one to go without some sort of free time or entertainment whether it be a book, tv, music, sports, movie, dining or live show, etc. Not so in America. Our delight in distraction, merriment, regalement and recreation is paramount. And to some extent, all this is good. We have come a long way. We started out as separatists and puritans, revisionists and revolutionaries, pioneers and explorers, renegades and radicals, and free-thinkers and freedom-seekers and look where we are now.......Well, where are we? Do you see what I see?
Typically if you huff and puff to climb up one side of a hill or mountain you get to ride, slide or glide down the other side with some ease and rest. They say what goes up must come down. Has America reached her peak? Has America built itself into a magnanimous powerhouse only to begin a slide down the other side of her great efforts, accomplishments, struggles and established position. Is there a shift in America's moral resolution, her commitment to excellence, order, liberty and spiritual stalwartness?
I see a country whose educational system has taken leave of its moral boundaries and embraced the liberal think tank of moral relativism. I see a morality in American society that once had a stronger fiber but is now selling out in and to dollars and cents and sponging up tv programs, movies, lascivious music and decadent art (in all media). The occult nature, symbols, and practices are freely referenced and purported in best sellers and blockbuster films---not to mention a plethora of tv shows.
I see a government, once young and visionary, once focused and united in purpose and once for the people it was designed to serve DEGENERATE into compromise, career-men, self-aggrandizing lobbyists, special interests, partisan slugs and liberal judges at all levels. A government immersed in excessive taxation that robs its' people of their rightful earnings and is, in effect, legalized theft. A government no longer countenanced with a peoples' identity (you and me), but an identity represented by systemic process and machination with no real head or personality but engrossed in a clog of grinding bureaucratic gears and undeclared intent while 'lording' over its people, the very people it was intended to serve---not this way around.
I see a nation of people (not all) whose numbers increase as subscribers and "trustees of modern-day chemistry"--whether legal or illegal. Yes, that's drugs! Drugs as medicine is one thing, but drugs to alter, revamp and change, control moods, mental stability and spiritual disorders is another thing. Beware America lest you become a disjointed, psyched out, apathetic, misdirected haven of and for drug addicts. I see a nation of people who are making the 'medicine business' the biggest business it has internally by rampant use of drugs (whether over the counter, by prescription, under the table or on the streets), doctor-care (so-called), and endless medical tests and procedures (so-called).
I see relationships in decline. We all know that the success of a marriage is about 50/50. This means that the family as a whole in America is not what it used to be. The family used to be and is intended to be the foundational institution of emotional, moral and spiritual breeding and security in this nation. Nowadays, little children go through their whole formative years to become young adults (sort of) without knowing the balance, warmth, security, and wholesomeness of the complete family as God intended it to be. Instead, they sadly become fragmented by-products or partially developed fruit of shattered, temporary and non-committal relationships that produce young adults headed into a world ill-prepared for success or even survival as they struggle spiritually and emotionally for identity and to keep their heads above their own emotional waters. A desparate identity quest characterizes much of our youth moreso like a pall and doom rather than a natural rite of passage. Whilst not finding happiness as it should be, is it any wonder that many seek solace in alternative lifestyles through captivating music, more captivating occult interests and experimentation, and even more captivating liberal/dangerous sexual appetites of diverse styles. All this is the modern diet. TV has become the master babysitter-to all the family- including Mom and Dad. When families should be spending time with each other, they are sucking the electronic bottle of tv networks and programs that solicit, prey, exist and flourish on and to the baser instincts and immaturities of our society.
I see a nation who may have missed and is still missing a wake-up call. Do you reallly think it was coincidence that the towers fell on 9/11. That's 9-1-1-! Hello! Emergency! Do you need help America? This is no laughing matter. It is no coincidence that the towers of finance and economy and big business fell on 9/11 as well as a major embarrassing attack and wound on our military strategic headquarters--the Pentagon. Americas' bastions of pride--military might and financial strength.
There is a reason why this nation has been so blessed in its relatively short history. It all goes back to its roots, its beginning. The roots of this nation are Godly and He has responded favorably with blessings in its internal development and worldly status as a global leader. This did not happen overnight and neither will its demise but there are evidences of decline (as aforementioned). Evidences of America's blessed and Godly roots could be presented here but that is not the theme of this writing. It is, however, to declare a very serious, valid and current concern for a fundamental, structural, moral internal decline in this great nation. I see a bright light that is fading. I see an eagle whose wings are slowly being clipped, whose vision is dimming and who is gradually becoming grounded.
So what is America's greatest strength? What is America's achilles heel to this strength---its' greatest weakness?
The people of God. The people of God in America are presently in a shift, a transition. Certainly, there are ills regarding the present day status of Christianity. Televangelists (some, not all) and their endless prosperity shrill and plea for donations coupled with their inability to handle same has certainly, at least in the public viewpoint, given the at-large modern-day church a black eye. And, unfortunately, the modern day church know more about the purpose driven life and busyness than it does about true relationship or intimacy with God and His blessings--such as healing, both physically and spiritually. But God will have a people. He always has.
I see something else. I see an endtime army of people, still not fully developed and still dressing for battle---for spiritual warfare. This nation is involved, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in a spiritual war. (Think it not strange that the Islamic face has raised to such attention and spotlight in recent years). And we do often hear of Christianity as soldiers for battle ("Onward Christian Soldiers"). True, but they are also farmers, sowers and reapers looking for the harvest. There will be and is coming a harvest to the house of God as those of His own are faithful to plant and cultivate for it. This is that hour with the best yet to come. So, in a seemingly dismal overcast, there is a light on the horizon--the imminent horizon--to the faithful. Those that are faithful to seek and ask for His heart and His will for this nation will be rewarded, for they , the people of God, are the key, and always have been, to Americas' greatness.
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