Christ First Forum

by **LdyinChrist** » 30 May 2010, 14:27

America Did Not Repent
Larry Draper

In 1994, we had an invitation from the Board of Education in Donetsk, Ukraine to bring 170,000 Bibles and
present them to high school students in the region. It was three years after the fall of Communism and the nation was still reeling from economic collapse. However, in Dobrapoli we discovered the schools were closed. We were told they did not have enough money to turn on electricity. Only the faculty was present. We gave Bibles to the adults and presented the gospel message. After the service was concluded, they asked if we would hold a question and answer session. The first question came from a man who asked, “Do you believe our nation is suffering and our economy has failed because we have been an atheistic
state?” I said, “I know this: God has declared in this Book, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ ” I continued, “God has put His honor at stake: He will honor the nation that honors Him.”

That has haunted me in recent days as I watched the drama unfold in our own country. It seems to me that America is a nation under judgment. When I began preaching 48 years ago, I warned that if America does not repent God will bring judgment upon the nation. I do not preach that anymore. I do not believe that anymore. Today, I preach and believe that America has not repented: God is already bringing judgment and the people do not have the spiritual discernment to recognize it.

I have seen first-hand what happens to a nation when her economy fails. I was there when it happened in Russia and in Ukraine. I remember when the exchange rate in Russia was eight rubles to one American dollar. When Communism fell the ruble fell with it. I saw it fall almost immediately to 30 rubles per one American dollar. The next year is was 330 rubles to one American dollar. It continued to fall until it reached 27,000 rubles to one American dollar. There was absolutely nothing the Russian government could do to stop the devaluing of the ruble. It was worse in Ukraine. Their solution was simply to print more money. The Ukrainian “coupon” fell until it took over 200,000 to equal one American dollar. It was finally declared worthless, not even worth the paper it was printed on. The government was powerless to control the value of their own money.

Can we not see that the same thing could happen in America? We have political leaders who seem to think the state is God. They think government is there to take care of us from the womb to the tomb. No matter what your problem is, the government has a solution.

I believe America is vulnerable today in a way she has not been before. We are dangerously overextended militarily and economically. My generation has seen the United States go from the greatest lending nation to the greatest debtor nation in history. No nation can continue in sin and rebellion and expect God’s blessings to follow. I believe God is about to humble our nation. America is falling into the hands of the enemies of God and the church does not recognize it. There are enemies of God already in places of influence. A nation does not have to go through atomic warfare for that to happen. Russian Atheistic Communism fell without a shot being fired. America may not fall to Communism or Islamic terrorists. But I do believe she has fallen into the hands of political leaders who are secular humanists. There is really no difference between Communism and Secular Humanism. They are both equally the child of hell. Secular Humanism dominates the media, infiltrates our schools, corrupts our politicians and makes a mockery of our courts. It has even found itsway into many pulpits across America where unsuspecting church members feed on “chaff which the wind driveth away.” If America fell to an Islamist nation from without, everyone would see it. But America is in danger of being handed over to secular humanists and almost nobody sees it. If the church is to stem the tide of wickedness in the land, she must have revival. If she does not, she will live to see the enemies of God prevail. However, I want to look at the other side of that truth. If God brings judgment upon America, it is no reason for God’s people to panic in despair. Psalm 46 was written during the reign of Hezekiah, when the Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem threatened to destroy the city and kill the people. It seemed that the city would into the hands of God’s enemies. The
Psalmist wrote in the midst of that crisis, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth be removed and the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea.” The word translated removed literally means “changed hands.” Look at that verse again. “We will not fear though the earth change hands.” In other words, we will not fear even if the city falls into the hands of
the enemies of God.

For the past several months I have watched the panic reaction of many Christians to the latest news coverage. Last fall I heard Christian people say, “I am afraid what will happen if Obama is elected.” Or, “I am afraid what will happen if the economy fails.” Christian people should never talk like that. Even if the nation falls into the hands of the enemies of God, we must not fear. Our God is still sovereign: He is in absolute control. He will never fail His people. The Bible says, “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” If God in His love and wisdom brings our nation to judgment it is no reason for us to fear. God uses judgment to call men to repentance when they will not hear His goodness.

No nation will stand forever, not even the United States. There is only one kingdom that is eternal and that
is the “kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever.” Every other form of government will fail. We should not fear to see earthly kingdoms come and go for “we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor” (Hebrews 2:9). We do not fear the day of national judgment. We are to pray for it that God in His wisdom will use it to call a nation to repentance and draw His people to Himself. He has promised that He will “shake not the earth only but also the heaven … removing those things that are shaken, the things that are made (by man), in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-28). The writer of Hebrews assures us that “we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. Let
us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire” (v. 29). As Peter said, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11). If God should choose to deal with our nation in judgment, let us not be afraid but rather serve the Lord faithfully and determine by His grace that we will occupy until He comes.

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by **Remnant** » 30 May 2010, 17:21

Last fall I heard Christian people say, “I am afraid what will happen if Obama is elected.” Or, “I am afraid what will happen if the economy fails.” Christian people should never talk like that. Even if the nation falls into the hands of the enemies of God, we must not fear. Our God is still sovereign: He is in absolute control. He will never fail His people.

Amen and Amen and Amen!

by **WKUHilltopper** » 31 May 2010, 01:30

What a perceptive commentary!

by **Carmela** » 31 May 2010, 07:06

I believe God is about to humble our nation

AMEN!

America is falling into the hands of the enemies of God and the church does not recognize it.

Sad but true!

If God should choose to deal with our nation in judgment, let us not be afraid but rather serve the Lord faithfully and determine by His grace that we will occupy until He comes.

AMEN!

GREAT article, Libby. . .thanks for posting!

by **Jeani** » 31 May 2010, 12:10

To be honest, what I am seeing is more and more Americans turning 'against' God.

They are enjoying their false gods....

As far as the church, our churches is truly 'lukewarm' with the Word....

We all are going through this fiery trial,but my prayer is that I will not disappoint my Lord and Savior...

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