What Is Happening in America?
By Bruce Cannon
Mitchell County
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. (Jeremiah 8:20)
It’s hard to believe, but as I write this article summer is nearing its end. My how time has absolutely flown by! School is beginning again, fall colors are approaching and cooler weather is on the way.
Jeremiah in the above verse is lamenting the captivity of Judah by Babylon. He can’t believe this has happened. The northern kingdom fell one hundred years previously to the Assyrians. Babylon rose to power, defeated Assyria and proceeded to take all the territories under Assyrian control. It was not content with that huge land and people grab and marched on Judah.
As Jeremiah sees all this happening, and he also is taken into captivity, he laments. He also hears the Lord’s lament in Chapter 2:12, 13: “Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
He is grieved. Time is dragging on and there seems to be no end to the captivity and no return to their homeland. He wonders why God’s people do not seek forgiveness from the Lord. And why they are not begging for a return to their homeland.
As I think on these things my mind drifts onto the United States of America. I love our country. I was born here and have lived in America all my life. I believe America was founded by God as He moved upon the hearts of the founders to come here seeking a land where they could worship God in spirit and in truth. Upon arriving they began the process of establishing a government by the people and for the people…a government where they could worship God as they were led to do so. They acknowledged His divine sovereignty. They sought His counsel as they wrote our founding documents. They prayed to Him for leadership, guidance, protection, and blessings upon their new nation.
But, my oh my, how we have fallen from that mindset! Our nation today has so many voices seeking to censor the name “Jesus”. Innocuous prayers are prayed without using His name. His Word is being taken from oaths of office by so many. The phrase, “so help you God” has been removed from some courtrooms. The Ten Commandments have been removed from many public locations. The Cross, once standing guard over the tombs of deceased military and law enforcement personnel and others, has been removed in many places.
My question is, where will all this madness stop? How is it that we can mention the names of false gods without lauding the praise audibly, visibly and loudly to the One God who gave us this great land, blessed us in so many ways, and sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the ransom for our sins?
The Lord thoroughly judged Judah and Israel for turning from Him! What will He do to a nation such as the United States who knew better yet, blinded and deceived by Satan, has done the very same things?
My heart breaks when I hear Jesus’ name being censored and statements and symbols of our faith being removed from public buildings and locations. I long for days to return as when I was a boy. In that era the Pledge of Allegiance was honored, the Word of God proudly displayed by all, prayer passionately prayed IN JESUS’ NAME and Church houses were full of passionate worshippers who gladly came to the House of God to offer Him praise for their blessings and well-being.
Pray with me, “Lord, forgive us for not offering you our very best praise and worship. Forgive us for not standing boldly for your Word and your Name. Forgive us for allowing the removal of Christian symbols and statements in public places. You alone are worthy of all praise and worship! You made our land great. You protected it and prospered it! Please give us another opportunity to stand up for You. Please turn our nation back to you. Help us to teach our children the importance of honoring and serving you. Help us to show them the value of living for you and worshipping you. Lord, guide our hearts and protect our homes; give us the wisdom to sense you and follow you. Thank you for always being there for us and for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ Wonderful and Mighty Name, we pray! Amen”
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Reverend Bruce Cannon currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville. Formerly he served as Director of Missions for the Bladen Baptist Association and he has served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Cannon HERE.
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