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Modern Day Rome
“Whaz happenin?” It is not just an informal greeting, it is a good question related to what is happening in America. America is often spoken of as a nation in decline. At issue is what the elements are that are leading to the decline?
The election being over, let’s go to work on building a better America.
It appears God is saying to America, “Now let’s try building a better America, and let’s get it right this time.”
There is a classic case study from which we can learn and potentially avoid the decline.
Historian Edward Gibbon lists five reasons Rome fell in his book, “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”
His extensive study of the period of the decline led him to conclude there were five factors in the decline. Our society seems to be unaware of the same factors being at work within our culture. They are:
1. The increase of divorce undermines the home, the base of society. In 2022, a total of 673,989 divorces and annulments occurred across the 45 U.S. states that report this statistic. During that same year, 2,065,905 marriages occurred, with the U.S. marriage rate 6.2 per 1,000 people. Far more people get married over the course of each year than get divorced. Nevertheless, family life is in decline.
2. High taxes and the spending of public money for free circuses and free bread for the population. The influx of illegal migrants has accelerated spending. The government has no money. To give away money and services the government has to tax people to get the money. This Socialist trait has increased rapidly.
3. A mad craving for pleasure with sports becoming more exciting every year. Admission at some prime sporting events is $400 to $500. This has not kept stadiums and arenas from being filled to capacity. Actors, actresses, entertainers, sports figures, and musicians are modern day heroes and heroines; all are secular evangelists.
4. Gigantic armies built to protect from an outside enemy when the real enemy was decaying morals. Billions are being given to fund the Ukrainian War, assistance for Israel. Our own expansive global military drains our coffers. Bankruptcy is inevitable at some point.
5. The decay of religion with faith becoming formalism, and the loss of the ability to guide or warn the people. The decline in church attendance is symptomatic of our decline spiritually. The societal influence once exercised by the faith community is missing nationally. Pray that we not be a modern Rome.
Lucifer Wept
We are back, America is back from the brink of becoming a modern model of “Paradise Lost.” We are back, but the brink is still there. The further we get from it the better.
“Paradise Lost,” by John Milton is a classic novel in which the heart of evil is revealed, though often carefully cloaked in robes of righteousness. As such it covertly advances its evil intent by using moral confusion. That sounds like our recent society. We have called evil good for so long many have come to believe the misdirection. Conflict and confusion, twin evils, have subtly, but significantly let evil prevail in much of our national life. Many use words other than evil, some calling it progressive.
Believing there to be a spiritual component to everything it is easily seen in our recent history.
As in Milton’s work, sympathy for the devil is seen as it is in a song by the Rolling Stones. Reflect on these descriptive words from “Sympathy For The Devil.” It is a poetic description of the deception America has been under. The words are:
“Please allow me to introduce myself I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long year. Stole many a man’s soul and faith
I was ‘round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made —- sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you Is the nature of my game
Just call me Lucifer cause I’m in need of some restraint
So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste. Use all your well-learned politesse Or I’ll lay your soul to waste.”
That has been Lucifer’s game, the laying waste of the soul of America. The election is like God saying, “Let’s try this one more time and let’s get it right this time.” That will involve using this window in time for there to be a genuine spiritual awakening that includes all of life; political, morally, socially, culturally, financially, internationally, and by all means spiritually. Ideally this should begin in the churches, but for that to happen many will have to brush the ashes off the altar and reignite the gospel fires. God has given this formula for doing so.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).
Pray earnestly for a great spiritual awakening in America.
A Mega-Shift Is Coming; Or Is That a Mega MAGA?
God’s people prayed. God responded, and a God thing happened.
The election of Trump in such a convincing manner was a God thing. Pundits are offering numerous explanations as to why Harris lost. They don’t get it. God was present and at work November 4, 2024, and the potential transformation of America was begun and along with it a global shift transpired. Governments around the world took note.
Many believe in God having been the enabling force in the election. Those and others now need to pray more than ever.
When Reagan was president there was international uncertainty until 11,000 air controllers threatened an illegal strike. President Reagan said, “If you do, I will fire you.” They struck and were unceremoniously fired. Russia principally, but other nations alike said we need to be cautious, this man means what he says.
Once more there is a global sigh resulting from knowing we have a president who means what he says.
Indications are we are about to be unfettered from a WOKE, DEI agenda. The best qualified persons will get the jobs regardless of skin tone.
The candidate with the fewest votes l-o-s-t. That is the way it has always worked. Inconceivable the current losers haven’t caught on as of yet. They are still in a lugubrious state of mind. By the time they work through their grief they will awaken to find themselves in a brave new world.
Then the battle will begin. There is no indication the losers are going to react constructively, but contentiously. They will be recalcitrant and tetchy.
The task before President Trump is a big one. Opponents can be expected to exploit even the slightest misstep. They will try to eviscerate every objective. The secular national media will be in the vanguard of efforts to degrade his administration.
Rebuilding our military will be a major task. DEI has demoralized our armed forces. Some of our generals say that our equipment and munitions are so low we would run out of combat ability in two weeks in a war with China.
How to remove the thousands of illegal aliens will be an emotional task. Rebuilding our border defenses will at times appear to be a heartless endeavor.
Entire departments, such as the FBI and Justice departments will require time, money, and personnel.
In general, a governmental makeover is coming. Let’s not rule out God in this undertaking. Doing all this in His way is important. On this end of the line prayer is needed. Don’t fail our nation after such a miraculous time.
Pray for President Elect Trump
And now. . . . ?
The Presidential election is over. President Trump was the decided winner. I know not all who view my Posts always agree with me. I respect them, as I do all my Friends, however I must acknowledge my prayers were answered as those of many of you were and President Trump will be our 47th President.
It is now incumbent that pro and con Trumpites unite in praying even more for him. In doing so we will be complying with Scripture that tells us to pray for those in authority. It really is selfish to do so because being under his authority we benefit from good guidance. Therefore, resolutely commit to supporting him with prayer.
Parenthetically, if you would ever like to share one of my Posts with those on your mailing list simply click the “Share” on your incoming Facebook. You can do it regularly or seldom.
It would be difficult to find evidence America has not been blessed. Why has it been blessed? The fact that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles is so evident in early documents and inscriptions on historic buildings and monuments that it can’t be denied.
Another principle that’s evident in Psalm 33 is God will remove his hand of blessing from the nation that forsakes him. “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the people.” (Psalm 33:10) Psalm 9:17 states clearly, “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God”.
Saluting the flag, standing at attention during the national anthem, singing, “God bless America”, and voting faithfully are not the most patriotic things you can do for this country. We help America most by living a Godly life. “For the Lord loves righteousness …. (Psalm 33:5).
The Bible teaches that any attempt to govern without God is doomed to fail.
“No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:16-2). Pray that.
God and only God can redirect America from the impending doom. He has often used a human being as His change agent. We need such a person today. Scanning our society no such perfect person can be chosen from among fallen sinful people. The pages of history tell the story of many imperfect people He has used to achieve His perfect will. There is reason to believe Vox Populi, Vox Dei, that is, “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” May it be proven to be true.
If possible, pause now and pray for President Trump and VP Vance.
Living Crosswise
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9: 23).
On the day Jesus spoke these words, everybody knew what Jesus meant. In the Roman world, before a man died on a cross, he had to carry his cross (or at least the horizontal beam of the cross) to the place of execution. Therefore, He was speaking of an ongoing process. That process being a consistent lifestyle commensurate with His. To deny yourself is to live as an others-centered person. That one being Jesus. That prompts us to pray with heart “not my will, but thy will be done.”
Jesus made it clear that He was not speaking on this occasion of physical death, but spiritual by adding the word “daily.” No one could be crucified physically everyday. However, they could daily have the same attitude that Jesus had.
That is, to live as expressed in an old hymn by B. B McKinney entitled “Let Others See Jesus in You:”
“While passing through this world of sin,
And others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within,
Let others see Jesus in you.”
An appeal resulting in fulfillment is found in this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12: 1, 2).
When your life is a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,” it is a fulfilling and rewarding life.
Albert Schweitzer, a man of some note, observed, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. Only then have we ourselves become true human beings.
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.”
Schweitzer’s observation reaches new heights when tweaked to indicate life is most meaningful and fulfilling when it is Jesus we seek to serve. We may serve others, but it should be done in Jesus. name and by His enabling grace.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Worthwhile people don’t just happen. You aren’t born worthwhile. You are born with the capacity to be worthwhile. It is your job to discover and develop the person you ought to be.” The person you ought to be is the you willfully and joyfully bearing your cross daily. Start today.