Jeremiah 5:24-25 “They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.”

We do not like to admit that our actions have consequences. It has been “politically incorrect” for many years to even hint that disaster could in any way result from sin. Any thinking person could list example after example. Instead, we write books like, “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People,” and ignore our Creator and His laws. Even if we admit that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) We tend to apply that to “the other guy.” Even less do we repent of societal ills. God has allowed the current mess in government because, frankly, we have asked for it. The total illogic, the outright insanity of many of the things that are happening stem from decades of turning a blind eye to immorality, in ourselves and in society around us. We have taken refuge in thinking that we are “better than average,” making people our standard instead of adhering to the Word of God. Legalism isn’t the answer, but humility and repentance are. We bemoan the “entitlement mentality” we see all around us, not realizing how much of it we have ourselves. A major problem with luxury is that we come to expect it, thinking it is “our due,” instead of being duly grateful. Perhaps the best thing about the current situation is that more and more people are waking up, on various levels. If they will understand their own part in bringing this situation on us, then the end result will be very good. If we fail to have a renaissance of personal responsibility, then the future is bleak indeed. Looking to others to bail us out, and specifically to politicians, is foolishness. As was commented at the beginning of the American Experiment, such a system of government works only for a majority-righteous people. Such a majority is achieved one person at a time; we can’t point fingers at others.

I am of course talking to myself here. As a pastor, and a missionary at that, I am in the category that most people would consider “righteous,” but that doesn’t let me off the hook. A prime Biblical example for me would be Daniel, who, though personally righteous, repented for the sins of his people. (Daniel 9) I too am tempted by the flood of filth that is washing over society, and I cannot think that I am naturally immune. The only immunization against this plague is the Word of God (Psalm 119:11) and the Spirit of God, who is, after all, the Holy Spirit. As the Lord spoke through me just a week ago, I can’t divorce those from each other, but must rather make my life a friendly place for the Holy Spirit by letting the Word dwell in me richly. (Colossians 3:16) Like Daniel, I am to pray earnestly for society, but never from an attitude of pride. I too am dependent on the grace of God!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me remember this and live it out consistently. Thank You for Your overwhelming grace and blessings. Thank You that Cathy and I will be able to have an overnight at a romantic hotel in celebration of the 52^nd anniversary of our first date. May we not miss any of the blessings You have for us by insisting on how things “should be,” but rather flow with Your Spirit on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!