United Church of God

Pastor's Corner - July 4th, 2020

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A Congregation of the United Church of God

Pastor's Corner - July 4th, 2020

On July 4th, America celebrates Independence Day.

It is symbolic of the birth of the American nation, after decades of British governance. Motivated by ongoing taxation, unjust tariffs, and other economic issues - and the frustrations that came about as being subjugated and ruled by a foreign army, the colonists declared their independence and fought and died to protect its fragile balance.

The United States prospered following their declaration, they expanded westward, and as time went on and history continued - the United States became a power on the world scene. That is not to say that the United States is without blemishes in its history, few nations are, but by and large - no other nation in the world has afforded consistent promises of freedom and prosperity for its people quite like the United States of America.

Having opportunities to visit various former British protectorates has illustrated that not all countries who have declared their independence from British rule have enjoyed the same prosperity and freedom. Belize has struggled in the years since declaring its independence. Infrastructure issues, corruption, and threats from its neighbors have plagued it in the decades since declaring its independence. In West Africa, Nigeria and Ghana were both British Colonies for a time - throwing off British rule in the 1960's, both countries have experienced a number of issues since - conflict, corruption, infrastructure challenges, prosperity challenges, and the like. 

All three of these countries have followed the same path as the United States, but with vastly different results. What is the key difference? 

The key difference is the blessing of God upon a nation that is the descendant of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. 

It's not because we're special, it's not because we're somehow otherwise exceptional - we are nothing. We are no different than the people in Belize, or Nigeria, or Ghana. The only difference is that we are on the receiving end of the blessings promised to man who lived 4000 years ago. A man who was instructed to leave his country and to follow his God. He did so in faith, and as a result of that faith, God promised to make his descendants like the stars in the sky, like the sand on the seashore...

He promised to prosper them, and bless them, and through their blessings - they would bless those around them. 

This promise has both physical and spiritual implications.

The blessing of God upon this nation has allowed it to become what it has become, and when this country has done it God's way - the blessings have been poured out in abundance. When it hasn't - then it has reaped the consequences, often consequences that are far reaching and reverberate throughout history.

In the book of 2nd Chronicles, Solomon's prayer of the dedication of the temple is recorded. In 2 Chronicles 7:12-16, we see God's response.

"Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will 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. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually."

If my people - who are called by my name... if they would humble themselves and pray, seeking His face and turning from their wicked ways... 

As descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - as Israelites, the tribe of Manasseh, the United States has turned away from God. We have passed laws that are contrary to His way of life, we have continued to kill our unborn at a rate that is unreal, we have exhibited oppression and injustice, we have sinned. Period. End of sentence.

The United States has turned away from God. 

"Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." -- Galatians 6:7

America has been a sovereign nation for the past 224 years. At times - she has acted in accordance with her God, and has done things right, and at times - she has not. But make no mistake - the consequences for the time that she has not are coming. 

When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people... 

We have all experienced a pestilence over the past 4 months - for 1/3 of a year, we have been shut down and restricted. It has had far reaching consequences on the economy, and other aspects of our life. In one fell swoop, we saw how fragile our economy truly was, and how quickly things can slip away. Supply chains were disrupted and farmers are dumping milk and crops, factories closed... If this were followed by an attack on our food capabilities, with locust, or significant drought, or the like - this country may not recover.

We see times in Israel's history when there were significant drought, when there were wars, and famines, and plagues, when God got the attention of His people through these things.

What was the solution? 

If my people, who are called by my name will 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.

The United States is in desperate need of repentance.

It's people are in need of repentance, brethren--you and I--are in need of repentance. This country is in desperate need of a turn around, and that will not occur in the oval office, in the halls of the congress and the senate, and it will not happen in the streets...

It will happen with each and every one of us - on our knees, submitting ourselves to our God. Repenting for the wrongs, and turning to Him, seeking His face. This was the message from nearly all of God's prophets to the people of Israel over the years - sometimes they listened, and God relented, other times they did not - and they were destroyed. 

America's reckoning is coming. Let us all ensure that we are about our Father's business in the meantime - turning to Him, actively seeking Him, and turning from our wicked ways.