Christian Living

AMERICA, THEN AND NOW

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
11/30/20
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

PROLOGUE

Have you gotten over this last presidential election yet? As for me, well, I have my own private concerns and opinions which I choose to kept to myself. Nonetheless, recently I have talked with a number of like-minded Christians discussing what lies ahead for America, given our current political environment. Is God truly through with America? Has He taken His hand off America?

America has seen the best of times and the worst of times down through the ages. I was not privileged to be living during the Great Depression. However, I've heard many a tale from my aged relatives of what transpired during that dreadful era in our history.

Fast-forward into the Twenty-first Century. It is a proven fact that no society or civilization has ever prospered long term whose populace continually disobeys our living Creator God’s commandments and principles. So I ask again, is America on the verge of a national judgment for its repeated sins? 

There are sins such as the deliberate, willful murder of fifty million plus innocent unborn babies? (Exodus 20:13) (Psalm 127:3-8) (Psalm 139:13:16) (Jeremiah 1:5); the deliberate sin of disobeying God’s marriage laws (Genesis 1:26-28) (Genesis 2:24) (Matthew 19:4:6); and the ongoing progressive apostasy of its people. (II Timothy 3:1-9,13) (II Timothy 4:3-4)

If this old world continues to stand, there will be many major decisions to be made from a political perspective. But the most important decision, the one with which we all may take part, is the direction of our country from God's point of view. Do we go with God? (Acts 4:19-20) Or do we go with the political mind-set of the day? (Ephesians 6:12) One of our early church leaders, Peter, was faced with the same decision during the onset of the early church. When faced with this paradox, Peter stood firm for the Gospel (Acts 5:29)

In (Romans 13:1-7) we find that our rulers are servants of God, whether they know it or not.  However, since governments are often controlled by unsaved people, these same governments are prone to become corrupt. Herein is where the fault lies.

Conversely, like the saints of old, Christians should never go against the perfect will of God. You see, God uses the just and the unjust to affect His plan for the ages. (Daniel 2:21) From my finite mind’s eye, I don’t rightly know if God is done with America. I do know however, America's future is in God's hands. (Isaiah 14:24) (Isaiah 46:10)

From the very onset of human history up to now, we have many examples of the consequences of avoiding God's plans for our lives, individually and collectively. The Scripture gives many examples of this, starting with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7 ) that has affected mankind forever. This defiance against God continued at the tower of Babel in which God stopped their building plan by confusing their language. (Genesis 11:1-9)

Isn't that same philosophy still true in today's world? We leave God out of our plans, which would surely be OK, if our intention was to give God the glory for our accomplishments. However, by leaving God out of our preparation, as was the case in the Garden of Eden and with Babel, we as a country are building on a rotten foundation.

Now sit back and enjoy this fiction parable, that of an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, entitled, "America, Then and Now.”

(Please click and  read the blue highlighted Scriptures as you move through this blog (II Timothy 3:16)

“I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. (Isaiah 42:8)

I’m plum tuckered out. My doctorial research on “The Framing of The Constitution” has just about taken all the steam out of this old professor. Think I’ll just sleep on it and tackle it again come morning.

I had no more hunkered down in my bed for a long winter's nap when it all happened. I must have fallen asleep and into my aspirational fantasy world again.  I’ve been doing this a lot lately, must be those rich night-time snacks. Just where will my complexity fantasy land travel take me this time? I feel it all coming about in my old bones. I can hardly wait!

Then it happened in a blink of the eye like all the others. How quickly the scenery seemed to change! This time I felt it to be a jump back in time. Must have been at least several centuries ago, according to the dress and scenery. I can’t wait to see who I might meet this time around.

Suddenly, there he was! Out of the past came a most unusual character. I’d know this remarkable person anywhere! Why now? This isn’t the New Year! He always appears at the end of each year to help us put it all behind us.  He is the very embodiment of time itself. But why now and why in my dream world? Then he spoke.

“I’m here as a reminder, my good man. A reminder of the good ole days of the past compared to the progressive here and now. It’s a look at the past and present. Let’s call it America, then and now.”

“I’m very sorry Mr. Father Time," I answered, "I really don’t understand your purpose for being here”.

Seemingly, Father Time's mission was to remind me of what America’s beginning was and what her condition is now.

How did Father Time know that I was struggling with my dissertation paper? I wondered. I certainly needed a little prodding for my dissertation.  Anyway, I’ll take all the help I can get, regardless of how it may come about.

He put down his harvester’s sickle, and pulled out a large crystal ball from underneath his big black coat, and it began to come clear to me.  In plain sight was Constitution Hall, big as life, where it all truly began.

“Come now, my good man, let’s go inside,” he said.

And with that, we found ourselves pulled into his crystal ball amidst all the hustle and bustle of a great historic colonial gathering.

Many distinguished men were sitting around the leader of the group. It was hard to tell them apart, for they were all dressed somewhat alike. They all wore long-tailed jackets, jabot vests, neat starched ruffled white shirts, knickers and high-top shoes, and most were wearing the customary powdered wigs.  

“I know what this is, it’s the framing of our newly founded America," I whispered excitedly.

He gestured for silence and we hunkered down in the audience.

”Wow, what a lively discussion this seems to be,” I surmised quietly.

One by one, after being recognized by the chair's gavel, these distinguished gentlemen began to speak their minds, ever so graciously. The first to be recognized was a distinguished statesman of philosophy. 

After speaking about Le Roi’s health and events in Paris for the past year he gave a quick update of the major events in the United States: The Constitution’s ratification a year before and the start of a new government under it.

He continued on. “Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” 

He concluded with a note about his own mortality to his friends, “My health continues much as it has been for some time, except that I grow thinner and weaker so that I cannot expect to hold out."

“I know this gentleman," I whispered quietly. "Why, he’s Benjamin Franklin, a great leader and a man of many talents."

Then, as the meeting proceeded one by one the other dignified gentlemen were recognized.

James Madison was next, “If our nation is ever taken over, it will be taken over from within.” To this came a loud unified cry of “Hear! Hear!"

Then came Alexander Hamilton, “A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.”

“The duty of a true patriot is to protect  his country from its government,” was Thomas Payne’s remark. Again, another big, “Hear! Hear!”

Then, it was Thomas Jefferson’s turn, “Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for its citizens.” The “Hear, “Hears” continued to rage on.

“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other,” said John Adams.

With this remark, not only was the same “Hear, Hears loudly heard, but it also prompted a standing ovation.

“Ok, Mr. Father Time, I’ve heard enough. Please, let’s get out of here," I begged. "Can I please just go home?”

That I did, for my dream or vision had ended with the disappearing of Father Time.  I was still in my bed, hunkered down as before,

With that, I was suddenly awakened to the reality of today’s America. The television was tuned to a Breaking News interruption.  Mass chaos was everywhere, historic buildings and statutes were being torn down, The American flag and Bibles were burning in the streets. Uncontrollable mobs fought against the police and rescue squads, causing mass casualties. And the government was nowhere in sight.

“What a drastic change in our society. Where did America go wrong?” I cried out in total dismay.

Then, as if from a divinely placed bolt of lightning, I remembered my church pastor’s last Sunday’s sermon. “The Gives and Takes of An Evil World.” Reaching for my trusted Bible and Concordance, I swiftly turned to the explanation Scripture highlighting the pastor’s sermon. (Ephesians 6:12) End of story, beginning of service. 

EPILOGUE

How do we as Christians take a stand for the right and truth? How do we make the rightf decisions? Do we give support to evil trends, and if so, does that make us sinners as well? Or, if we resist these trends, are we not being good citizens?

Fighting an evil world conflict is very hard, as we are up against the full forces of Satan, (Ephesians 6:12) Allow God to give you the proper convictions. Confess your sins if you need to. Ask for His help to obey if need be. (Hebrews 4:16) 

If you’re in the midst of conflict with respect to how to handle your emotions concerning our country's ungodly trends, please consider the following suggestions:

Pray that the Lord will speak to you through this Scripture and through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. (I Timothy 1:5) 

Share your concerns with other likeminded believers as to what God has been saying to you through His Word. Be open to encouragement from these fellow believers. And above all, ask them to remember you in prayer. (I Thess 5:11) 

Take steps to proceed with what God has said to you through this passage. Be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only (James 1:22). You may find it very hard to do what God wants you to do, but be assured that God will provide the strength you need if you depend on Him. (Proverbs 3:6)

This perfect God of ours not only knows our strengths but also knows our weaknesses. ( Cor 10:13) If our decisions are made in accordance with the Scripture, God will not leave us helpless. (Jeremiah 29:11) 

In other words, we as Christians should love the sinner but hate the sin. We should be bold in the sinners' presence by retaining our Christian witness, but never give in to the sinful dictates of the sinner. (Romams 8:7)

In 2016, with respect to the upcoming presidential election, I went straight to the Scriptures, by marking and dating (Daniel 2:19-23) to pray for America. In 2018, I noted I was still praying for the midterm election. Then, in 2020, with respect to the upcoming national election, I noted again that I was still praying.  

I cannot give up on God, and I am still praying for America. As the old hymn states, I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. You see, I have read the back of the book (Bible), and we win. I trust that you will also join me in prayer.

In closing, remember the following from your high school days?

The preamble of the United States Constitution is the following:   “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

And yes, its still all about “we the people”. Amen!

Please click below to read additional Christian Blogs

https://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?id=39557