Is The Future Now?
A casual reader of biblical prophecy must come to grips with a simple observation. America is seemingly absent from the discussion. That’s shocking to us who live here. We tend to think we are the center of all that is. We wonder how we could be left out of the discussion in favor of small countries nestled in the mid-east somewhere.
The times in which we live present an interesting question. Is this the era that sees the United States step off of the world stage? In recent times, we have seen a staggering collapse of our economy. As a matter of fact, the case could be made that we have sold our economic souls to oil producing nations and to China. In addition, we have seen a huge expansion in the power and reach of the federal government. More and more freedoms seem to disappear every day. Larger and larger segments of the society seem to fall under government control with each news cycle. The politicians we elect seem determined to rush headfirst into disaster, while we simply look the other way and cry give us more.
It’s easy to join the chorus of those that say the sky is falling. The patriot/nationalist in me hopes that this is not the case. I gripe and complain about all the stuff going on too (if you don’t believe me, click on the politics tag). The Christ-follower in me, however, knows that God’s plan will unfold in His time and in His manner. And I know, that I have to trust completely in Him. Ultimately, we need to understand that our hope and confidence lies not in the halls of power, but in the hands of God. The psalimst says, “God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:8, ESV). God rules the nations. That includes ours. While I know that God is sovereign, my hope and prayer is that God will grant us a great spiritual awakening of epic proportions. I pray that the hearts of people will turn from trusting in the powerful, and will turn in repentance towards God (Psalm 20:7). May God once again shed His grace on us.
July 1, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Good post. So refreshing to hear someone with wisdom who conceeds that God rules over nations. In Danie..Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson well and said, ‘God rules in the kingdom of men.’ We are, I believe in the final generation. And I do see America in the mix. The spiritual warfare which is escalating daily is like leaven…it’s nature is to ’spread’ throughout the medium….the world. And while the focus of prophecy includes the Middle East, it also includes the whole earth. Decendents of the ten lost tribes of Israel are all over the planet. They won’t all return to Israel. It’s physical span couldn’t hold all the descendents of Abraham….numbered as the sands of the sea. We are, however, living in a glorious generation. As we see things ‘come to pass’…..we know ‘our redemption draweth nigh.’ You are right, God rules and the troubles we see around the globe are only by his appointment or permission.
Again, good post. I enjoyed its wisdom.
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July 2, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I read a cool quote a while back that came to mind reading your post: England thinks 100 miles is a long way, and America thinks 100 years is a long time. With America being the world player it currently is, it’s hard to picture anything different. But I think you’re right – God is in charge. Nothing can happen that He doesn’t know about or doesn’t work into His plan.
Thanks for your post!