America is in a freefall, spiraling downward faster than many of us imagined. It's been in moral decline for some time now, but now also financial and political. The other day my husband and I were discussing what priorities should be now knowing that we are surely in the end times. He made the comment that the country was in freefall and now was the time for people to be grabbing their parachute. He was referring to the one and only real live-saving parachute and that is Jesus Christ. It is a guarantee that this country is going down if it continues along its path. It's probably too late to change its course considering the fast-track of this present administration, aided by a media that no longer tells the news or the truth, for that matter, and by Congressmen who are too afraid of being labeled racist or of losing their jobs that they don't DO their jobs of representing their constituency (which ironically will probably lose them their jobs, hopefully!). It's too late to save the country, but as always, when God sends judgment, it is for ultimate good. Right now people are apathetic and think they can ignore His laws, laws that are for our good; they look to government for their needs rather than to their Savior. It's when things get really bad, that people turn to their Savior. So good will happen during this time, not for our country, but for individual people.
The same day my husband said America was in a freefall, I got this email from Olive Tree Ministries, and in it, the author quoted Chuck Missler who said, "America is in moral freefall". The email gives a good perspective on how to view the falling of our country:
A Word on Citizenship
by Heidi Swander
It's been many years since I've been able to sing The Star Spangled Banner without choking up. Given the opportunity to do it today, I doubt I could actually enunciate the words for weeping.
America is sinking fast. Chuck Missler, in his new DVD, Twilight's Last Gleaming, says, "America is in moral freefall. We are victims of spiritual warfare." Only too true.
How did this happen? For that answer, I refer you to Jan's recent radio program with Brannon Howse (you simply must hear this broadcast!!!), where they discuss cultural and political Marxism and how it snuck into our country many years ago. It explains a lot. Brannon also points to a period in Israel's history when the sins of the nation became so abhorrent to God that He told the prophet Jeremiah, "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you" (Jer. 7:16). Has America become this abhorrent to Almighty God?
We cannot know the mind of God, but Romans 1:18-32 shows a series of judgments that God will bring to a society that forsakes Him. John MacArthur expertly clarifies this passage in his sermon, When God Abandons a Nation. A glance at your favorite news source these days will confirm that our country is well down this path of destruction. We are not only in moral decline, but headed toward political, financial, and social ruin.
Our founding fathers, though saddened by this turn of events, would have gravely nodded their heads at what is taking place in America today. Thomas Jefferson once wrote, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated, but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Jack Kelley, founder of www.gracethrufaith.com, recently wrote an excellent article about this very thing. The title of the article stings a bit, but the truth in the text is beyond question. In it Jack says: "According to no less an authority than our President (and he's right) America is not a Christian nation. The only connection between God and America today is that a bunch of us who believe in Him happen to live here. . . . America is a secular gentile nation that will soon be no more comfortable a home for the church than pre-war Germany was for the Jews."
When I think of my beloved America, I grieve. But God has recently made poignant to me this truth: I am not a citizen of this country. I am an ambassador to this country and a citizen of another. So are you if you are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ! Paul told the Philippians, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20).
Can you, today, get your mind around that concept? If you can, it will make a world of difference in how you view the news, how you respond to the dangers of our world, and how you look to the future.
We are actually commanded to set our mind on things above (Col. 3:1-3; but also Matt. 6:33), not on things on the earth. Now would be a very good time to recognize and obey this command!
Thinking of myself as an ambassador does three things for me.
First of all, it gives perspective to the freefall that America is in. I am still saddened, because I've lived here a long time and America has been a wonderful place to reside. But America isn't really home, so I find that I'm often looking at all that is going on with a kind of emotional/spiritual detachment.
Secondly, it reminds me that I have a job to do and that I may not have much longer to get it done! Our "special and temporary diplomatic assignment" (from Webster's definition of "ambassador") is to introduce as many people to the Lord Jesus Christ as possible (II Cor. 5:20).
Lastly, as I see all that is happening around me, I anticipate being recalled to my Home Country! There are many reasons for an ambassador to be recalled, not the least of which is the anticipation of a declaration of war. One day -- perhaps very soon -- war will be declared on this earth (Rev. 6:4ff), but before that takes place, the Lord's ambassadors will be recalled to Heaven!
So what do we do with all the horrible events that are swirling around us which seem to spell the demise of our beloved America? We pray (Eph. 6:18), we witness to others of the love of God in sending his Son (Matt. 28:18-20), we encourage one another (Heb. 10:24-25), and we look forward to going Home to the City God has prepared for us (Heb. 11:16; Rev. 21:2, and 21:9 -- 22:3). We have no idea how great it's going to be to be Home (I Cor. 2:9)! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
That was the email update from Olive Tree Ministries, normally written by Jan Markell, but this one by Heidi Swander. Personally, I don't believe Christians will be "raptured" out of here before all the end time tribulation prophecies take place; I believe there are too many references to us enduring until the end. And to do that, we must be strong and I believe we are going through a refining process right now. So many people seem to be going through hard trials right now, but remember that God refines us as silver, He chastens the ones He loves, and He wants us to endure until the end and to not be deceived unto death.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. - Isaiah 48:10
And He shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. - Malachi 3:3
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. - Revelation 3:19
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? - Hebrews 12:7
And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. - Mark 13:13
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. - 2 Timothy 2:3
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any [man] deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many. - Mark 13:5-6
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. - Luke 21:8
NOTE - Note that in the two scriptures above, "Christ" is in parentheses. That is the King James Version's way of telling you that that word was not in the original manuscripts. They added it for clarity. So the word isn't necessarily "Christ"; the deceivers say, "I am", as our Lord is the great I AM, they insinuate they are "the One" to look to, the one to have hope in to fix all our problems???
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. - Matthew 24:24
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. - Ephesians 5:6
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; - 2 Timothy 3:12-14
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:16 & 23
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. - Matthew 24:10-13
1 comment:
Excellent! Thank you for sharing!
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