The increasingly appalling conditions in America cause me to think of Proverbs 14:34, which says “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Below are other translations of Proverbs 14:34:
- Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin degrades any people. (CJB)
- Doing what is right lifts people up. But sin brings judgment to any nation. (NIVR)
- Rightfulness raiseth [up] a folk; sin maketh peoples wretches. (WYC)
- Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people. (ISV)
- Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable. (DRA)
Perhaps the most daunting threat looming over America is a blooming nineteen trillion dollar debt and a divided Congress that’s too fractured to solve it.
These other translations say sin brings judgment on a nation. Moreover, sin degrades and diminishes a nation, making it miserable and wretched. And Paul, the apostle, made it even clearer when he said, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23). Sin is having these deadly effects on America.
In explicit terms, America is replete with wholesale abortions, rampant homosexuality, obscenity, mass murders, war, terrorism, diseases, addictions to illicit and prescription drugs, gangs, rapes, sex slavery, child abuse, racial hatred, poverty and so much more misery.
Perhaps the most daunting threat looming over America is a blooming nineteen trillion dollar debt and a divided Congress that’s too fractured to solve it. Proverbs 14:34 warns us that these awful conditions are the direct result of the sinfulness of America.
In essence, sin has made America a hell hole. Hell and its filth have spilled over into America. Psalm 9:17 says, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17 warns us that a nation who forgets God would become a hell hole.
Christians like myself who warn the ruling class (political leaders, business leaders, policymakers, judges, etc.) about the direction they are taking our nation don’t want America to experience divine judgment.
What does it mean for a nation to forget God? It means the nation ignores the fact that God has blessed and favored it to prosper, even taunting God with its sin. The nation becomes bloated and prideful from its success and wealth. Eventually, the nation thinks it’s too smart and sophisticated for God not realizing it was God who made it wealthy and powerful in the first place.
Such forgetful and apostate nations surely experience all the misery and wretchedness I mentioned above. God will allow the devil to prevail over such nations, e.g., the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Ancient Israel is a prime example of a nation that forgot God and experienced divine judgment after He had made it prosperous and powerful. America would be wise to learn from the past mistakes of ancient Israel.
Christians like myself who warn the ruling class (political leaders, business leaders, policymakers, judges, etc.) about the direction they are taking our nation don’t want America to experience divine judgment like Ancient Israel. Unfortunately, many in the ruling class are indifferent, even indignant, to our warnings.
Some Christians foolishly dismiss our warnings too. Hence, our nation is busy offending God by legalizing sin and immorality. The result is despair, destruction and mayhem in America.
Sadly, many ministers are living in sin themselves. Perhaps this explains why you seldom hear sermons about sin or the horrors of hell or divine judgment?
All the news is not bad. I would be remiss not to mention the marvelous work of spiritual revival the Holy Spirit is doing in certain pockets of America. Many people are turning to Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, America still has time to repent and turn back toward God. If she indeed repents, God is merciful and will forgive her and turn calamity away from us. In fact, below are five things I believe Americans can do immediately to repent and turn back to God:
- Pray for mercy and forgiveness
- Honor the Word of God
- Restore the fear of God
- Stand for righteousness
- Elect righteous leaders
Notwithstanding this marvelous work of the Holy Spirit, many Americans seem uninterested in repentance. They are going about their life and business, as usual, apparently unaware that the house is on fire. They are unaware that the ship is sinking. To put it bluntly, they are unaware that America is under divine judgment. This dull mindset is exactly what the devil wants.
Even worse, a Laodicea mindset permeates the church. Christ followers seem unaware too that America is under divine judgment. As God assigned the Prophet Ezekiel, God has assigned His church to be watchmen on the wall and charged us to hear His word and use it to warn the people. Ezekiel 33:7
Sadly, instead of being watchmen, many ministers are living in sin themselves. Perhaps this explains why they seldom preach sermons about sin or the horrors of hell or divine judgment?
Jonathan Edward’s famous soul-stirring sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” would be an anomaly in most pulpits today. Rather than strong Bible teaching and preaching against sin, of the sort Edwards and his contemporaries preached, political correctness or compromise fill many modern-day American pulpits. For this cause, Peter wrote that judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).
How long before God completely turns His back on America, as she has done Him, and removes His favor from her? How long before the judgment and wrath of God hit America in full force? Well, but for the patience of God and presence of the Holy Spirit working through the church, America may be already experiencing the divine judgment of God in full force.
My sense is that America needs to repent fast!
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