When We Turn From God

   The Israelites are the chosen people of God.  He brought them out of slavery in Egypt.  He fed them in the desert, brought water from a stone and led them to the promised land.

   Yet they repeatedly turned from God, worshipping false gods, and ignoring the ways of the Lord.  In punishment for their sins they suffered plagues, famines, droughts, and exile.  When things got really bad the people would repent and return to God, but as soon as things got better they went back to their sinful ways.

   As I look around today, I see the same pattern in our nation.  God has blessed us greatly, but we have chosen to ignore Him and reject Him.  Mentioning God in public is now considered inappropriate and some would have it be criminal.  Standing up for God’s word and His ways brings belittlement, condemnation, and hatred.

   Without God society decays.  Hatred, immorality, and sin reigns.  A nation built on religious freedom has become a nation that stifles religious freedom.  Stable, two-parent families are becoming a rarity.  Schools have expelled the Lord.  Prayer is forbidden and many refuse to allow Christian students the use of the same facilities that are freely offered to other student groups.  Politicians claim to be Christian, but their actions refute their claims.  They prefer political correctness to their faith.

   God will not long continue to bless a nation that rejects Him and His ways.  It seems we are becoming very much like the early Israelites.  We accept and take advantage of His many blessings but refuse to follow His way.  I fear that we are a nation at risk and the only solution is to return to God.

You have blessed us in so many ways.

Yet we ignore and reject You.

We are bringing about our own destruction.

Save us from ourselves.

Amen