Five Consequences for a Nation that Rejects God

THE ROMAN ROAD TO WRATH

Ideas, and the actions they product, have consequences, and the Bible is very specific about what a nation will reap when it rejects God. Lawlessness and disorder have their roots in our continually snubbing the God of the Bible.

Chapter 1 of the book of Romans in the Bible delineates five specific national consequences for denying God. Paul's warnings written here in this passage as given to him by God are so explicit and frightening relevant to what is happening in America today.

1. The nation that continually rejects God becomes a nation of fools. Rom. 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Men will go to all kinds of extremes in order to justify their sin and false beliefs about God. Situational ethics, moral relativism, and postmodernism are all methods used to justify rebellion against the character and nature of God.
2. The nation that continually rejects God accepts pagan spirituality. Rom. 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Pagan spirituality centers on the worship of nature and the planet Earth, yet its ultimate goal is to sidestep feeling guilt, for anything. Our world has moved from theism to atheism to pantheism.
3. The nation that continually rejects God accepts homosexuality as normal. Rom. 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle as "normal" is pushed as a priority during the past several years as evidenced in our nation's schools, television programs, movies, music, and even in some churches.
4. The nation that continually rejects God becomes debased and violent. Rom. 1:28-31 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
5. The nation that continually rejects God produces judicial, legislative and executive branches of government that approve of and encourage immorality and corruption. Rom. 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

My point is outlining these five indications of national moral failure is not that I want God to judge our nation. I fear His wrath too much for that. However, there is hope in knowing that a just judge is in charge and that He will not wink at sin. He holds everyone accountable which means that all have the potential to repent. We can pray God's judgment will cause people to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus Christ. We can also pray that His call to accountability will purify the church and ultimately take our country on a new road to God's glory and honor.

Excerpted from a longer article written by Brannon S. Howse and published in WorldViewTimes.

Taking A Stand

Whatever the specific issue, vigilence is always the price of freedom. Here are three recommended questions a Christian should ask themselves if current conditions in their life require them to take a stand.

1. Am I taking the right stand? The right stand always lines up with the Word of God.
2. Am I standing in the right way? The right stand must be done in a way that pleases God.
3. Am I standing with a right spirit? The right stand must always be put forward with a Christ-like spirit that God can bless.

(These guidelines are detailed and recommended by the Christian Law Association.)

Twenty Cans of Success

1. Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?

2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?

3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?

4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling, knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

5. Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take actionbecause I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?

8. Why should I lack wisdom when Christ became wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it (1Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?

9. Why should I be depressed when I can recall to mind God's lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness, and have hope (Lamentations 3:21-23)?

10. Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)?

11. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?

12. Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ (Romans 8:1)?

13. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)?

14. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit (Galatians 3:13, 14)?

15. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances (Philippians 4:11)?

16. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)?

17. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?

18. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through his indwelling Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:33;2:12)?

19. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ (Romans 8:37)?

20. Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations (John 16:33)?

HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Paul's instruction to Titus regarding the ordination of pastors is timely for our day. They were to be men who were capable of "holding fast the faithful word." Pastors, also referred to in the New Testament as bishops or elders, must be grounded in the Word of God and able to resist temptations to compromise the principles and commands of the Scriptures. Paul refers to the words of the Scripture as the "faithful word." God's Word can be trusted. It has not changed, and it will not change. It is forever "settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).

We are witnessing rampant attacks upon the Word of God and blasphemous attempts to change the Holy Bible. The truth will remain because its preservation has been promised in the pages of Scripture. The words, "as he hath been taught," remind us of the importance of teaching and training as far as doctrine is concerned. We cannot hold fast the Word of God if we are not instructed and strongly convinced of its message.

Churches of the New Testament are identified as being pillars and grounds of the truth. The Lord's churches are to hold to the truth, teach and preach the truth, and spread the truth to our needy world. Unfortunately, there are so many places that claim the title of church where the Bible has little place or influence. This is a sad testimony of the state of religion in our society. People need to be taught the Word of God.

How can we stand against error unless we are equipped with the sound doctrines of the Bible? What does the Bible mean when it refers to our responsibility of "holding fast" to God's holy truth? We are exhorted to hold on to the words of Scripture because there will be forces determined to loosen the grip God's servants have on the Word of God. The devil wants to steal the Word of God from the hearts of listeners, as Jesus taught in the Gospels. The enemy is always attempting to erode our faith in God and undermine the authority of the Bible.

We must hold fast against the currents of compromise and the liberal tendencies that are so prevalent. We must tighten our grip on the pure doctrines of God's Word, and refuse to be swept away by deception and false doctrine, "holding fast the faithful Word."

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

The Truth

1 Tim. 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Believers are encouraged to be in prayer "for all men," including "all that are in authority," that our own lives might be "quiet and peaceable," as well as for their personal salvation.

God, who abhors and promises to judge sinful individuals, does not desire to punish anyone. His desire is for "all men to be saved," and He has done all that is necessary to bring this about, by paying sin's awful penalty of death. While not all will prevail themselves of this opportunity, choosing instead to continue in their own sin, our prayers somehow are used by God to bring some "to the knowledge of the truth."

The truth necessary for salvation follows:

1 Tim. 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In order to be saved, we must embrace the fact that there is only "one God" who alone holds the key to eternity, and that there is only one way by which we can reach that God, "the man Christ Jesus." We, in our natural state, are at war with God, estranged from Him, and separated by the presence of sin in our lives. Christ Jesus, acting as our mediator, our peacemaker, our advocate, being both fully God ("one God") and fully man ("the man") bridges the gap between the Father and men.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

How has He bridged the gap? He "gave himself a ransom for all." The Bible teaches that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23) but that "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). Since He willingly "gave Himself" as a punishment for our sins, we can stand before God the Father in Christ's sinlessness.

HE LOVETH OUR NATION

Luke 7:4-5 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

A centurion had a servant who was sick and near the point of death. This centurion sent a group of Jewish elders to see if Jesus would come and heal his servant. When they came to the Lord, they presented their case, requesting that Jesus should help this captain saying, "That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue." This centurion, though he was a Gentile, had a reputation of devotion to the Jewish nation, which was Christ's nation as well as theirs. He evidenced his love for their nation by building them a synagogue, a place of worship.

When we think of our nation, we know she has many faults and stands in great need of repentance and revival. Nevertheless, we love our nation. We do not love the direction she has been going or the wickedness that is permitted and promoted; but still we love our country. We are thankful for our heritage and Christian influence. We are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy. Our nation has been the birthplace and home of some of the world's most influential preachers. Many faithful missionaries have left this country to evangelize other nations. Our nation has been responsible for publishing the Word of God and Gospel literature for the benefit of millions. We have gone to the defense of struggling nations and helped defend the oppressed on many occasions.

What could we do to express our appreciation for our country? The centurion built a synagogue for the Jewish nation, and one of the greatest things we can do for our country is to build churches. Our country is in a state of moral decline that will not easily be reversed. How can we help our beloved nation? We desperately need multitudes of sound, Bible-preaching, separated, New Testament churches. We need a voice for righteousness in every community and a faithful preacher of the Gospel in every town. If we love our country, let's support missionaries and get the Gospel out wherever and however we can. Let's dedicate our lives to reaching out to the lost, discipling the saved, and building churches wherever we can. Our love for our nation can be demonstrated in our commitment to the ministry.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

And the World Wept

(Here is an article by Jeff Straub submitted in the newsletter "In the Nick of Time" published by Central Baptist Theological Seminary for your review and meditation.... )

I was about to board a plane for Budapest, Hungary, to teach for a week in Arad, Romania, when my eyes were drawn to the TV monitors across the JFK airport. Every monitor that was not giving passenger information was carrying the story—Michael Jackson was dead. From my accommodations here in Romania, the TV news (Romanian) carries the story as a lead feature, showing video clips from London, Paris, India, the Philippines, Japan, and finally, the National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, where Jackson once performed. The flowers and candles are piling up, and the tears are flowing. There have even been reports of fans committing suicide. The world weeps at the loss of the “King of Pop.”

Jackson’s death will likely be a major story around the world for at least the next few weeks, and maybe longer. Perhaps some think that the death of one so detached from Christianity is of little consequence. After all, people die. I wondered how many others died in the world the day Michael Jackson died—Farrah Fawcett, at least, and hundreds more, no doubt. And why should the Christian even care?

It behooves believers to pause and reflect on this cultural phenomenon, especially in these days. I don’t know where Jackson is today. To my knowledge, he never professed faith in Christ, without which, no man can stand justified before a living God. But his death does remind us of several things that we would all do well to ponder. I pen these few words for believers to stop and consider, amidst the world’s fixation with the death of such an iconic figure.

1. For most unbelieving humanity, death is the inevitable and certain conclusion to life. The majority of the human race―now numbered at more than 6.25 billion―has little hope of bypassing this ultimate end, and many face their approaching demise with a great sense of foreboding. As of this writing, coroners have not determined the cause of Jackson’s death, so whether he had sense of death’s imminence, none can say. But when one so well known dies so young (he was 50), many of those still left living are filled with a greater sense of fear and uncertainty because they realize just how tenuous life really is. Death appears certain and all, it seems, will face it. For the world, this is a frightening reality. At this juncture, believers ought to hear the Word of God echo in their ears: “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27) which, in turn, should remind us of Gen. 3:19, that we come from dust and to dust we will return. Death is the great certainty in this life, especially for those who live without divine grace. It is approaching, it cannot be avoided, and it is a thing to be feared.
2. Death is the great equalizer: rich and poor, famous and obscure, male or female. Death, when it hits, brings the same physical end to all of humanity. The brain quits, the heart stops, and life, as humans define it, is over. Not even one’s personal fortune or social status can bring relief of this destiny. Again the Word of God ought to echo in our ears: “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Since all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23), all of us can expect to receive the due recompense—the cessation of life itself. No one lives forever . . . at least not in life as we know it now. The world intuitively knows this despite all protestations to the contrary.
3. Physical death is not the end of all things; it is only the beginning. For the believer, death is the beginning of life eternal, when we are ushered into the presence of God to enjoy Him forever. For the unbeliever, death is the beginning of unparalleled judgment and unending chastisement. Though a great debate rages today on the existence of future punishment, the Bible portrays the prospect for the lost as never ending torment, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:48). If the Bible is true, then the greatest tragedy is not physical death itself, but a failure to get ready for the inevitable and to die unprepared. How many of those in our acquaintance stand at the threshold of death, even now, unprepared? Life is short, and judgment is certain.
4. Finally, God is the measure of all things. Regardless of who dies or what the circumstances of one’s death are, the final assessment of one’s life rests not in the accolades we receive from those who survive us. It comes from the perfect and final judgment of One who knows the end from the beginning. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that judgment is coming, and Rev. 20:12 describes that judgment at which the unconverted, small and great, will stand. It will be a fearful day, for none may avoid it. Hades yields up its occupants, and even the sea cannot contain all whose remains were lost in its vastness.

We must remember and proclaim that death is certain, it equalizes, it brings judgment, and that God is the final arbiter of life. The world will weep in the days ahead because they have lost an icon. Believers should not merely sit by and gawk, or worse, turn away in apathy. We too should weep. We weep not because we lost someone dear to us. We weep for those Jackson left behind—for the world itself. Most of humanity is fixated on the wrong things. The great tragedy in all of this is not that Jackson is dead, though that is a sad fact, especially if he failed to prepare to meet the Lord. The great tragedy is that so many fail to see the hand of God in all of this; so many have failed to submit their lives to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Who, then, should be weeping?