This may be changing, however, after police in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales foiled a terror attack in which Islamists had planned to "carry out public beheadings in Australia" (Michael Sin and David Stringer, "Beheading Plot Thwarted in Australia Terrorism Raids," Bloomberg News, Sept. 18, 2014). Thankfully averted in time, a successful beheading by Islamic terrorists in a prominent Western nation like Australia would spread terror throughout the Western world.

According to a report in The Australian, the threat isn't past either: "The Islamic State has called for terrorist attacks in Australia and elsewhere" (Mark Schliebs, "Islamic State Leader Calls for Attacks on Australia in New Audio Message," Sept. 22, 2014).

In London, an 82-year-old woman was beheaded Sept. 4 by a Muslim convert ("Woman Beheaded 'With Machete' in North London Garden," The Telegraph, Sept. 4, 2014) and in Moore, Oklahoma, a recently fired Muslim convert beheaded a 54-year-old female coworker Sept. 25 ("Police: Woman Beheaded at Oklahoma Workplace," Associated Press, Sept. 26, 2014). Such individual acts are being called for by jihadist leaders in addition to concerted plots.

The report in The Australian quotes IS leader Sheik Abu Mohammed al-Adnani as announcing the call-to-arms by saying, "If you can kill a disbelieving American or European—especially the spiteful and filthy French—or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war . . . then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be."

Throughout this issue we've shown the moral degradation of Western society as demonstrated by the sins of abortion, sexual immorality and the rejection of God and His influence in daily life. In Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 God presented the people of Israel with the choice between obedience with blessings and disobedience with curses.

He told them that if they chose to disobey Him and live sinfully they would live in fear: "I will even appoint terror over you" (Leviticus 26:16). The blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience also apply to nations like the United States and Australia, where people have knowledge of God and should know better than to live sinfully.

God wishes for His people to turn away from these destructive lifestyles and come to have a relationship with Him based on respect and love. Until the nations reject these sins and humble themselves to repent and turn to God, they will live in terror of unknown enemies and an uncertain future. You can do your part in overcoming this fear and uncertainty in your own life by turning to God and rejecting sin today. (Sources: Bloomberg News, The Australian, Associated Press, The Telegraph [London].)