Today in America

Today in America
By Tommy Franks

When a nation forgets God, they reap the consequences. If America forgets about Who God is…we reap the consequences. “There is no truth or mercy, or knowledge of God in the land” (Hos. 4, NKJV).

“By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed…Therefore the land will mourn” (Hos.4).

This week at Blacksburg, VA…a mentally unbalanced Virginia Tech student murdered 32 fellow students and faculty members. He had previously been judged a danger, but was not hospitalized or committed.

Now, the blame game begins. This was an awful tragedy and heartbreaking. As America is experiencing grief for the murder victims and their families, the politicians, media, and gun control proponents are coming out of the woodwork. They are saying things like, “If only the government would enact more gun laws and programs, this would never have happened. If only the administration and police had done their jobs…If only the mental health professionals would have done their job…If only Virginia Tech had done this or that…”

Some have overtly blamed the President. He is not to blame. President Bush is an honorable man who believes in Christ. Others have blamed the religious right wing. Yet, others have blamed the 2nd Amendment. None of this helps resolve the issues. There is a God (Jehovah) and there is a devil. The two are diametrically opposed to each other. God wants the very best for America and the enemy (satan) wants to devastate and destroy America.

Americans need to turn to God. He is the only answer to our dilemmas and problems in America. The politicians and celebrities pause for a "moment of silence in honor of the victims". This is supposed to show America that they actually care.

Some of these same politicians, bureaucrats and judges who have now invoked prayer…are the same ones who tell us that prayer is illegal in public places in America. They have preached to us about "the separation of church and state".
However, when they have an opportunity on TV or in the newspapers during a crisis, they somehow want to invoke hypocritically the name of God. God should be in our lives 24 hours a day and not just during a tragedy.

Hosea was sent to warn Israel at a time much like ours today. The nation was prosperous, economically sound, and moving forward. The situation described in Hosea is very similar to today’s America. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…because (they) have rejected (My) knowledge… because (they) have ignored the law of God. The more you have increased, the more (you) have sinned against Me” (Hos.4).
When I was growing up in Florida, we had some absolutes. The Bible was “truth”. Where are the absolutes today? What is truth today? Some of our churches in America are teaching that everything is gray…nothing is black or white anymore. If it feels good, do it…and do it now. Some are even teaching that there is more than one Way to heaven. Some say that there are many ways to get to heaven.

Where is the real knowledge of the true and living God? Why do we have so much
profanity and lying? Why do we have so many killings, stealing, adultery, and unrestrained behavior? Is it because that we have no fear of God anymore? During Hosea’s time, the rulers were dishonorable. In America, some of our judges and rulers are dishonorable.

The more America discards God, the more problems and diabolical issues will surface. Many people believe Plato and Nostradamus more than they believe the Bible. If Nostradamus had prophesied and stated the same thing that Hosea had prophesied in Hosea, many would hail it as truly prophetic and would believe. However, since it's in the Bible, it goes widely ignored by our society.

Most people do not believe that there is any absolute truth anymore. Everything is relative and gray. If anyone is so bold to say that the Bible is Truth and we still have absolutes, that individual is labeled intolerant, bigoted, or a fanatical religious zealot. Even many Christians are quick to become legalistic when someone stands up for God's absolutes.

In America today, how many people actually have a real knowledge of the true and living God? God has mostly been systematically removed from our society. Sadly, God is also being removed from the minds of a lot of Christians as well.

Profanity and lying are normal. It used to be abnormal. I have even overheard Christians saying, "F---ing this or f---ing that or he is a f---ing a--h---". You get the picture…a fresh stream that has turned into a sewer.

Some people lie constantly. Some Christians lie frequently. Most people say, “Who cares.” Lying has become a means to an end. It is not even questioned as wrong anymore.

Some Christians will say, “The only lying that is really bad is…the lying that hurts another person. That type of lying is bad and considered wrong.” Poppycock!

Tonight on TV, you will see and hear of killings, stealing, fraud, deception, and schemes. These are now common in America. Adultery is now common in America. If it feels good, do it. NOT.

Now get this, some Christians have even said, “Adultery is simply pursuing your own personal happiness. What loving God does not want you to be happy? Yeah, this makes sense. Yeah, this passes the Old Testament test. Yeah, the Ten Commandments were written a long time ago and are no longer valid for our time or society today.” NOT!

Just about anything goes today as long as "It doesn't hurt anyone else". Lying, cheating, pornography, homosexuality, perversion, arrogance, pride, slothfulness, and gossip are your “God-given” rights as a human being. NOT!

In America, it seems that the more God blesses us with prosperity and abundance, the more we are forgetting God. Am I right or wrong?

Hollywood says, “We enjoy sin. We enjoy weird entertainment, immorality, violence, bloodshed, occultism, and perversion. If you doubt that we love to enjoy sin, just go to your local movie theater. We have an insatiable appetite for sinful things.”

America is bent on materialism. We never seem to be satisfied. We never seem to get enough stuff. Today, most of us have more stuff than we can use.

It seems that the Creator is ignored while the creature is elevated to god status.

During Hosea’s time, the rulers were dishonorable…filled with corruption, lying, power thirsty, weak character, and bent on destroying their opponent’s reputation.
Most believe that it is the survival of the fittest.

Is God going to judge America? How long will God have patience with us? Do people fear God anymore? Will God punish America for her sins? Are the lightning bolts of God beginning to rain down on America? Is God asleep? Has He forgotten? Is He paying any attention? Does God still hate sin?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven” (Romans 1:18-19).

God has always been a God of mercy as well as judgment. God judged Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3). God judged the entire world before the flood (Gen. 6).
God judged the Israelites (2 Kgs.17). God judged the Jews via the Romans (Mt. 24). God judged the local churches (Rev. 2-3). God is a God of judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

He will judge every person on how they have responded to His call of repentance. He will judge the works of His children. Our actions will be judged. Jesus will judge all things (Acts 17:31, Revelation 1:7). Every single person will be judged (Mt. 25)…
even the fallen angels will be judged (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6).

God's judgment will be final (Eccl. 11.9) and eternal (Heb. 6.2). God is just. No one will be able to disagree with the justice and nature of God, especially His judgment.

The recent events across America remind us that God is serious about us. Does He still love us? Absolutely! Even though we are living in perilous times, as Christians, we can expect that our “Redemption” is drawing nigh. God is ultimately still in control of the universe and in control of His Master Plan…and we are part of it forever! God loves you eternally. AMEN!