Before I headed to the polls, I had to do a little research. I'm not really into social politics and have only followed this year's candidacy on a very high level...with not much attention to detail or time invested in the process. So although I had a pretty good idea of who I wanted to vote for in some of the more publicized roles, I still needed to figure out what these candidates were really about before casting my vote. Well, I did...for the most part. So I went to the polls boldly and with confidence. And I casted my vote.
But to my utter shock, surprise and dismay, my "cast" was overruled with the harsh reality that my value system is clearly not aligned with my country's sense of moral obligation (or lack thereof). Hard pill to swallow for me...particularly considering how blatantly my core values were "de-valued."
My vote was my plea. My vote was my prayer! And though my vote was swallowed up in the mouth of hatred, abuse, bigotry, disrespect, racism, sexism, classism and a sheer disregard for human dignity, I asked...Now What?
What do you do when you pray and hope for something that you want really badly, and choose to walk in faith, only for God to answer your prayer in a very different way than you imagined? Sometimes with a blatant "No." Other times maybe a "Not yet." Or sometimes even in silence. What do you do?
Well Saints, men and women of God, my Christian brothers and sisters...WE have a great opportunity! We don't grieve as those with no hope. We must stand firm in our faith, stand tall in our tenaciousness, and stand upright for righteousness' sake! It is time for us to mount up with wings like eagles and soar!!!
What do I mean by that? Well, let's first face the harsh reality that we mirror the image of Israel and Judah. Jeremiah 32:30 says, "Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days. They have infuriated me with all their evil deeds,” says the Lord. 31 “From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger me, so I am determined to get rid of it.32 The sins of Israel and Judah—the sins of the people of Jerusalem, the kings, the officials, the priests, and the prophets—have stirred up my anger. 33 My people have turned their backs on me and have refused to return. Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey. 34 They have set up their abominable idols right in my own Temple, defiling it. 35 They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly!"
Doesn't that just give you chills? Doesn't this sound so familiar to those of us who life in this great country? But while it is great in many ways and we chant with our mouths "One nation under God," its' citizens bow down to the devil every day. We have infuriated God with the evil deeds of this country. How long do we expect to get away with it? The sins of America and its people... from the presidency down to the homeless, helpless wo/man on the street and from priest to prostitute... we have created a sinful nation. A lifestyle that disregards and displeases God. We defile our own bodies and that of others. We worship idol gods. We endorse and impart homosexuality, adultery, impurity and hate from the pulpit with our lifestyles. We make everything comfortable for ourselves instead of correct. We fear rejection so much that we have learned to accept anything we are offered. We allow ourselves to be seduced by the world and its riches because we have forgotten that faith is the currency of the believer. Our currency is green and has become the root of our evil. We have forgotten how to love one another and stand firm in our faith...because we have uprooted the foundation on which we can. This election has shown all those whose truth has been hidden under the rock of ignorance just where this nation stands.
BUT GOD!
God loves us so much that even in his exposing of us, he still gives us grace in the midst of our ignorance and sin. So, yes people...THERE IS HOPE... THE HOPE OF TRUE RESTORATION!! Let's read about it in this next part of the story in Jeremiah 32:
36 “Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land."
Yes, God wants to restore us because he is a God of peace, love and restoration. But in order for us to be restored and revived, we must first repent from our sin with a sincere heart, turn from our wicked ways and seek God's face! That's the answer. That's the WHAT! And that is my prayer. For our country's reconciliation back to the one true God!!! That's what we can do now!
Let us think on these things...