Are America's Greatest Days Ahead?

For those who believe the Bible has neither place nor relevance in America’s future, the following might be considered foolishness. However, for those who believe in the sovereignty of God and the validity of the Scriptures, the following will resonate and confirm their perceptions.

A good starting point is to consider the building blocks of this great republic and compare its foundation with the present. Several years ago when our president touted the proposed benefits of the stimulus program he said his administration could be likened to a wise man who built his house on a rock. The house would not fall because it was founded on the rock.

He was obviously referring to Matthew 8:24-25. That is a great scripture; however, Jesus’ words that provided the context of that passage was omitted.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…” Matthew 8:24

The key to wisdom is not only to hear Jesus’ words, but adopt and put them into practice.

Presently nearly 3 out of 4 Americans think this nation is headed in the wrong direction. Perhaps their thinking is correct, but many if not most believe this nation’s problems can be solved with short-term solutions such as an economic recovery.

Then there are those who examine this nation’s woes at a deeper level. They examine the policies and ideologies of our leaders that brought us to this point. Such thinking is more interested in addressing the sources of the problems and changing overall direction. There is little question that liberalism favors larger government to be more involved in helping the masses achieve a higher level of living provided by wealth redistribution. Conservatism, on the other hand, favors less intrusive government which allows individuals to pursue goals and aspirations utilizing one’s personal effort and religious freedoms.

But flawed ideology is not the only reason for national decline. Study after study confirms that the demographics in the United States are undergoing profound changes. It is estimated that by 2050 North America and Europe will comprise only 12% of the world’s population vs. 28% just a half century ago.

The decline in America’s natural growth rate can be attributed to several factors including birth control and abortion. America’s immigration policy is partially compensating for the decreased growth rate. One of the challenges of our immigration policy is that many immigrants of today have little or no interest in assimilating into American culture. Many do not share the same ideals or the religious foundation on which this great nation was founded. America is known for promoting diversity, thus our political correctness accommodates them.

Consider further that nearly a century ago a major portion of immigrants coming to America were from Europe and for the most part welcomed assimilation into American culture. The ‘melting pot’ has been transformed into multiculturalism. When varied cultures within a nation compete for dominance the end result is a dilution of national values resulting in internal conflict.

Nearly all studies confirm that white America (a demographically correct term) is becoming the minority population segment. Studies also show that white Americans are predominately conservative Christians. As their relative numbers and influence decreases, so grows the gap between what America once was and where she is headed.

Consider Europe and witness her decline. America and other western nations are close behind. Recall that Europe’s leaders have recently and collectively warned the rest of the world of the negative affects of their multicultural experiences.

The Bible addresses the issue very succinctly. When God gave Israel the land of Canaan, He gave them instructions and repeated them several times.

“One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Exodus 12:49

Therefore, Americans can focus on short-term perceived solutions or recognize longer range trends which are unfolding before our eyes and defining our future. However, for the Christian community, the Bible will be consulted to see where America is headed and why. Can the trend be reversed? Everyone can arrive at their own conclusion. The good news is that regardless of our national destiny every individual can choose their own personal eternal future.

A Peace that will Last

The theme of President Obama’s most recent address to the United Nations General Assembly was ‘a peace that will last’. That phrase was first used by President Franklin Roosevelt when addressing the UN in one of their early meetings near the time of their founding.

President Obama then proceeded to make several interesting statements such as, “So let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding”. However, according to the Bible and confirmed by current events the tide of war is rapidly rising. There will be peace, but not until after the return of Christ. Man by themselves cannot and will not live in peace without divine intervention. Man can only wish for peace before that time.

“For they have healed the hurt…of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 8:11

Jesus Himself warned not to count on peace before its time.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matthew 10:34

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…all these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:5-8

The greatest wars are yet in the future.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:11

Therefore, Mr. President, it is difficult to substantiate your claim that the tide of war is receding.

Then Mr. Obama suggested that another way to achieve peace was to eliminate ‘want’. He stated: “…we must all act on the belief that freedom from want is a basic human right”. Perhaps he was referring to Biblical teachings.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack).” Psalm 23:1

David’s thought was reaffirmed in the New Testament.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Many will wonder, however, if President Obama’s wording ‘freedom from want’ meant that God would supply all of man’s needs, or that ‘rights’ provided by government would eliminate ‘want’ and enable each individual to achieve their heart’s desire.

And then, as expected, President Obama addressed the Israeli-Palestinian question before the UN General Assembly.

“Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side…It is Israel and Palestine…who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them. Peace depends upon compromise…Friends of Israel must recognize the need to pursue a two state solution with a secure Israel next to an independent Palestine. That truth – that each side has legitimate aspirations…”

The Bible has much to say about the Israeli-Palestinian question. However, many would rather rely on politically correct solutions than trust the Bible.

Firstly, according to the Bible, Israel and the Palestinians will never live in peace side by side on the land promised to Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob. If there ever is such a treaty to provide for a side by side co-existence it will be for seven years and would signal the beginning of the tribulation.

Many ascribe the words spoken by Gabriel to Daniel to address this very issue.

“Thus he (Anti-Christ) shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god…and divide the land for gain.” Daniel 11:39

Secondly, Israel’s future and permanent possession of the land is unconditional and there is absolutely no compromise required between Israel and her enemies.

Thirdly, only one side has legitimate aspirations. Israel’s aspiration is to live forever in peace in their promised land while Palestinian aspirations are to annihilate Israel. There will never be a two state solution. In fact there will never be a peace in Israel established by man, but only by God Himself in His appointed time under His appointed conditions.

And then President Obama concluded his speech with the same words that he began with.

“Together, let us work to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last”.

Good luck with that, Mr. President.

God Warned Israel of Multiculturalism

The Bible leaves no doubt that Israel was, is and always will be God’s chosen nation and serves as an example for all other nations.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6

God promised to make Israel a great nation and further promised them specific land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River.

“To your (Abraham’s) descendants (Isaac and Jacob) I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…” Genesis 15:18b

God initially went on before the Israelites to dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan.

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you…you shall conquer them…” Deuteronomy 7:1-2

In addition, God gave the Israelites instructions as to how to remain pure and maintain their greatness. The key was to look to God for guidance and to reject any other influence.

“You shall make no covenant with them…They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” Exodus 23:30-33

The word ‘snare’ means entrapment.

Just prior to the Israelites crossing the Jordan to possess the land of Canaan after the 40 years wandering in the wilderness, the LORD gave Moses more specific details about dispossessing the people who were occupying the land. The Israelites were to completely rid the land of anyone or anything that could negatively influence them in their new home or cause the Israelites to take their eyes off their God.

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it for I have given you the land…” Numbers 33:50-53

And then God warned Israel of the consequences of not obeying His instructions to completely rid the land of any religion, culture or ideology contrary to His prescribed instructions.

“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.” Numbers 33:55-56

Well Israel disobeyed God’s specific instructions. They did not completely purge the land of all ‘anti-God’ influence. Judgment was inevitable.

“…and I said… ‘You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars’…but you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said… ‘Their gods shall be a snare to you.’” Judges 2:1-3

Israel has, and still is, paying the price. Their multicultural challenge is far from over inasmuch as the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob encompasses much more than the geographical area described as Canaan. The land to be possessed by Israel at the appointed time in the future includes portions of present day Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

The Bible presents multiculturalism as a deterrent to Israel’s purity i.e., a compromising, diluting influence. Israel has and is learning that compromising God’s instructions is not a viable option. Not only has multiculturalism not worked in Israel it is currently having a profound negative effect in Europe. Perhaps all nations that wish to preserve their national heritage and identity should review Biblical teachings as well as history and reevaluate the issue of multiculturalism. Recall God uses Israel’s history as an example for this present age.

Are All Men Created Equal?

According to Thomas Jefferson, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Jefferson, an aristocrat, penned those famous words while surrounded by his slaves on his Virginia plantation. Perhaps Jefferson had in mind the concept of impartiality in judicial administration which is in fact a scriptural premise.

While all men are created in the image of God, they are innately different. If all men were created equal in all aspects of life, all would have the same DNA. The attempt by government to equalize all men is termed ‘social justice’. Such ideology requires extreme governmental overreach into individual lives and causes major fiscal problems. Such political ideology has no scriptural basis.

God has a plan and purpose for everyone as an individual. The wisest and richest man in the Bible was King Solomon.

“…see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor…” I Kings 3:12-13

God gave riches and wisdom to Solomon and no one but God had the authority to determine what Solomon’s ‘fair share’ was. It is also very interesting to note the extent of Solomon’s influence.

“For he (Solomon) had dominion over all the region on this side of the (Euphrates) River…Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt…And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth…came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” I Kings 4:24, 30, 34

But God didn’t limit his sovereignty of granting wisdom and riches to kings, he was also intimately involved with common men. Recall the young Jewish lad named Daniel who was deported to Babylon in 605 BC.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom God had appointed, chose certain young men to learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Nebuchadnezzar offered special favors and delicacies to Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego which they declined.

“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom…therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:17-20

There are those who claim that God isn’t ‘fair’ in His apparent arbitrariness. But the answer to that claim was, ‘who are you to reply against God’? God was straightforward when He explained His sovereignty to Moses.

“…I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33:19

The Apostle Paul referred to this Old Testament passage in the New Testament confirming the authenticity of the teaching throughout this age.

God’s sovereign choice of those to partake of His mercy and compassion is epitomized in His election of common individuals to be conformed to the image of His Son. This choice was made before each individual had a chance to prove his worthiness. Then of course there is God’s sovereign choice of the tiny nation of Israel to be the light of the world. That choice is also immutable in spite of the efforts of many nations to marginalize or even destroy the ‘apple of God’s eye’.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you…” Deuteronomy 7:6-8

The sovereignty of God is irrefutable and for governmental leaders to try to equalize all men, i.e. egalitarianism, is a naïve attempt by big brother to play God.