Brother Edd Deaton shared a wonderful message this morning. In the shadows of the 10 year anniversary of the falling of heroes in this United States of America, Sparta Baptist gathered together for a moment of silence and then took a step out of our sheltered box to look at where our country is headed. Many would say that our country has found power and strength, that we are finally united as we should be. But are we where we should be? Brother Deaton took us into the book of Isaiah.
We will focus on Isaiah 1:18 - 31. I encourage you to dig out that Bible and read the scriptures. And as you read them I want you to take out the word "Jerusalem" and substitute it with the "United States of America". Wow! As tragedies occur all around us, we often hear people question God. "Why did God let this happen and to so many good people?" Sadly it isn't God's choice to let this happen. We cause much of this ourselves. Look at how times have changed. Look at what is acceptable now compared to what was acceptable 100 years ago. So much bad is now just accepted as part of being free in this country of ours. God gives us warning to not be polluted by such foolishness. United States is further away from God than we have ever been. As I watch the specials and memorials for 9/11 victims I see people holding hands and crying together and comforting each other, yet I wonder how many of them have cried out to God. How many have accepted Him because they saw no other way out of their misery? How many now thank God for thier lives and blessings with their waking breath? How many made that promise to never take anything for granted, not even their salvation?
Are we fooling ourselves to believe this country is heading in the right direction? Our society has killed our spirt. No longer do women teach their children right from wrong nor do we see kids respecting their parents or elders. We no longer have schools or political systems built on God and His laws. Prayer has been swiped from our children. Unless a child attends church he/she is most likely not exposed to God in any way. And even then, some of our churches have become too politically correct that we are scared to speak God's warnings and laws. What are we doing? Read the scripture! We are turning our backs on God.
You know the song, "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning". Everyone that lived that day can tell you where they were and what they were doing. It is forever sketched into our memories and will be until the day we no longer take breath. But really it isn't about where you "were", it is really where you will "be" that is important! Where will you be when the world changes back to the way God expects it to be? Where will you be when teachers unite together and say, "This isn't right to tell me I can't teach about God or say God or even pray to God and we won't stand for it anymore"? Where will you be when our judges unite together and say, "I can't worry anymore about hurting your feelings or embarrassing you....you did the crime and you will pay the consequence." Where will you be when everyone around you stops thinking selfishly and agrees to help their neighbor in need? Where will you be when it becomes the norm to walk outside and be rushed by a group of people caring about witnessing to you? When our kids' role models stop parading around town like fools in little to no clothing? When television becomes wholesome and shows Christians how to be Christians instead of polluting our minds with filth? When you can turn on the radio and finally hear a song that hit number 1 on the charts and it doesn't have a single curse word in it or talk about sex, drugs, or violence but instead talks about one's walk with God? Imagine living in God's United States of America. It seems so far away from reality because we have just become so immune to the filth around us.
God is asking and begging for a change in our world. We aren't "one nation under God" anymore. We are "one nation in need of God"! And we are fooling ourselves into believing that if we stand united we can overpower anyone. And, unless we are united and following God with our actions we not going to overpower anyone but ourselves.
Where will you be when all Christians stand together to fight for what our country SHOULD be built on?
The sacrifice has already been made and we must not forget. They laid the path, sadly many of us refused to walk the right path and have chosen the path where our pride has wedged itself between us and God.
Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones that day and days since due to the horrible conditions they had to face. The world has not stopped and we must move forward. Our hearts now, more than ever, need to be set on changing our country into a country and world that God is proud of. And where will you be when that happens?
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