"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
That verse pretty much sums up my beliefs about America at this point. For my entire life, I've considered myself Conservative. I support my country and I support our troops. America worked hard to become #1, but it wasn't just by hard work. God has blessed this country. Why He sees fit to bless anyone is beyond me, but this past century has been America's time on top. Like the Romans before us, I fear we are declining. Rome decayed from the inside enough that it could be conquered from the outside. I could go on a rant about all that I believe to be wrong with this country, but that's not my purpose. The main problem is sin. My sin, your sin, our sin. My sins are under the blood and forgiven, but I still make mistakes. I still face consequences for my actions here on earth even though I'm forgiven for eternity. If you read the Old Testament, God gets angry. He is a jealous God, and when He sees His people whoring themselves to other idols He gets mad. We are His creation, so He has a right to us just as much as I have a right to a painting I paint or a book I write. "We are His workmanship..." (Ephesians 2:10). Baal didn't make us. Dagon didn't make us. Ra didn't make us. Zeus didn't make us. Etc. God made us in His image. Like a coin bearing the likeness of Caesar, or Washington, we bear God's image. Why He would sully His image on a sinful creature like me, I don't know. He knows though, and He chose me.
It is okay for me to get angry, but only as long as I do not sin. God gets angry, and I can get angry about what makes Him angry. Naturally, I should go on a rant about other people's problems right? Wrong. If we want God to step in and give justice, to get rid of sin altogether, then I'm the first one destroyed. "Vengeance is mine" says the Lord. I know that if someone messes with my family I will get my revenge. God and I will sort out the details later. That's where I am in my growth. There are poor people starving in our own country, but it is NOT our job to give the government all of our money so that they can take care of it. It is MY job to help as best as I can. Still, I have done so little. I pray God increases my heart for those who need me. I love how David Platt asked "What would life be like if a $50,000 income did not necessarily mean a $50,000 lifestyle?" I was blessed to grow up wanting for nothing. If I work hard, I can carve out a piece of this earth, and fight my whole life to keep it. When I die, I can pass it on to someone I love as a legacy. God wonders why I fight for so little. He promises me everything! I am His heir!
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:14-17 ESV)
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?"
(Romans 8:31-32 ESV)
Once again, I'm glad I memorized Romans 8! There are many topics I can get heated about. There are many topics I can debate. I am blessed to have been born in America, even though there are some things I'm not proud of. I love my country, and I will support it as long as it follows God. If there comes a time where God goes one way and America goes another, I will follow God.
For the Kingdom,
Stuart
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