At the beginning, George Washington stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City on April 30, 1789, and pledged the oath as the first president of the United States of America. Immediately thereafter, he led the nation's first governmental body in a procession to St. Paul's Chapel and there they bowed together and dedicated and consecrated the new nation's future into the hands of Almighty God.
On September 11, 2001, the borders of the United States were penetrated by enemy forces for the first time in our history. Amid all the destruction of the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, all the surrounding buildings were either severely damaged or destroyed ... except St. Paul's Chapel. It survived the horrendous explosions equivalent to a small atomic bomb with no damage. The steeple was not toppled and not a single window was broken. St. Paul's Chapel stands as a symbol of God's protection in the midst of destruction, chaos and confusion.
What should have been a serious wake-up call for America quickly passed as life seemingly returned to normal. The enemy forces have been relentless and there has been a fundamental shift in the moral fiber of the nation which continues to spiral downward at a rapid pace from the absolute truths of God's word and his standards.
The enemy has been continuously chipping away the very foundation cemented in its Christian heritage - until we have become brittle clay under the judgment of God. The nation has listened to "the lies" and dethroned God - and deified man's achievements. This happened as the modern world abandoned the Bible.
Darwin's theory of evolution once adopted by our court system and taught in our public schools has affected every element of our society. Generations of our youth have been bombarded with these distorted truths by our educational institutions. The Bible clearly established that God is the creator of the universe and that his word is absolute truth and that he is our protector and our provider. Our modern culture hates God and hates the Constitution.
God has been dismissed in our nation by laws passed by our governmental bodies and our Supreme Court. They have made laws that are diametrically opposed to God's laws. Killing unborn babies and sexual immorality are just two of them. Relative morality has led to hopeless lives without any real meaning. Today the nation is experiencing an epidemic of drug addiction ... citizens seeking something to salve the emptiness inside.
God's moral standards have been replaced with situational ethics. God placed a premium on sexual faithfulness from the beginning of human history. What God meant for good in accordance with his plan for marriage between one man and one woman, the enemy has promoted sensual pleasures and instant gratification. Today a major national crisis exists of citizens addicted to porn sites. There are more than four million adult websites on the internet and they get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined. It matters to God what our eyes gaze upon.
With the invasion of the cultural changes from the ways God established his laws and precepts, the family has been split asunder. Generations of children have suffered the consequences. A better world and better ways were left behind.
It is abhorrent to God that the evil purveyors are using the airways (television, internet, movies, cell phones) to draw people away from his laws and teachings. The daily news grows more disturbing by the hour. We are a nation riddled with crime and hatred. There are radical anti-American groups, multiple hate groups, and terrorist groups within the borders of this nation - poised to destroy us. Many are using the media, violence, killing, and intimidation. These groups are well funded by businesses, corporations, and wealthy citizens. These organizations hate God and they hate the acknowledgement of God. Enemy forces continue relentless battles by using violent demonstrations in an effort to destroy the vestiges of treasured history ... and our deeply cherished values.
Battles are being waged over time-honored rules of respect. God is to be held in esteem and shown utmost respect. His name is to be revered, honored - not used as a by-word. Sadly today there is little fear of God. There is little or no respect for our divine authority or our nation's authorities and little respect for people and properties. Our president was sovereignly placed in office by God. President Trump has been bombarded with assaults from every realm. Many biased media personnel have issued repeated attacks and added fuel to an already confused audience because he has chosen to invite God back into the White House and is supportive of the embodiment of Judeo-Christian values. Our citizens need to pray for him as never before.
AMERICA IS IN PERIL.We are a nation adrift in flood waters of unbelief in our only hope. America's future hangs in the balance. The hour is late - and we must turn to God in repentance for our national sins. We are drowning in debt approaching $20 trillion dollars. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 28:12: "you shall not borrow." Cicero in 55 BCE said: "The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." Rome did not listen - and Rome fell. Many of our citizens are trusting the government - not God - to provide for all our needs and America is living on borrowed money.
When God's chosen nation of Israel rebelled against him and turned from God's laws and commandments, God sent enemy nations to defeat them and carry them into captivity.
NO EXCUSE. The Bible states, "They knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks," (Romans 1:21). There has never been a more beautiful, more blessed nation than America. For too long, we have taken these blessings for granted without even recognizing God as the giver of all the good things we enjoy or stopping to thank him for them.
Even now God is giving us the invitation to "Come" to him, to accept his gracious offer to believe in his beloved Son Jesus whom he sent to take our sins and our punishment. We have all sinned. We could never meet God's perfect standard. Jesus paid that price for us. Those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith will be saved.
God's alarms are sounding. A day of judgment is coming when Jesus returns to Earth. Decisions made now count - whether it is heaven or hell - for all eternity. The battle is raging. We weep and pray in hopes that millions will turn to Jesus Christ before it's too late. Now is the time to make a decision. God is calling Americans to wake up.
America - Christ is our hope. God’s amazing grace: freely given and totally undeserved.
Joyce Sanford is a Northsider.
