In Proverbs 14, 34 we read, Righteousness exalteth
a nation, but sin is a reproach to
any people.
We see this to be the case in
the days of King Hezekiah, when the king
of Assyria lay siege to the city of
Jerusalem, and began to mock God, and speak
blasphemy against him, and dare him to do
anything about it.
And King Hezekiah got Isaiah the prophet, and
they both got down on their knees before
God, and with a humble heart and with
holy boldness, they besieged Almighty God to be
their deliverer.
They could do this because earlier they had
made God their rightful ruler, through temple reforms
and national repentance, as good King Hezekiah led
the people back to the God of their
fathers.
We see the principle of Proverbs 14, 34
play out in the life of the people,
where righteousness exalts a nation.
For in 2 Chronicles 32, and in verses
20 to 22, we read, And for this
cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah
the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to
heaven, and the Lord sent an angel, which
cut off all the mighty men of valor,
and the leaders and captains in the camp
of the king of Assyria.
So he returned with shame of face to
his own land, and when he was come
into the house of his God, they that
came forth of his own bowels slew him
there with the sword.
Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem.
I believe that same God still reigns today,
friends.
I believe Almighty God still hears the cries
of His people, and I believe His arm
is not too short to save.
I believe His word is true, that righteousness
exalts a nation, and that sin brings it
low.
Christian America was founded on Christian religion, Christian
education, and the Christian home.
Take Christ out of either of these three
cornerstones, and the Republic falls.
The three things pagan America stands on today
are sports, entertainment, and sex.
Our churches used to be lifeboats that saved
the perishing.
Now they are showboats that entertain the careless.
Let me share a story with you, friends.
A traveling preacher was passing through a certain
city, and he wanted to go by and
visit a historic church that had a long
reputation for doing good for the Lord.
And when he got in the town, he
stopped at a local restaurant to grab some
lunch and ask directions to that famous church.
The owner of the restaurant was well familiar
with that church, and when the visitor went
on and on about all the great things
that church had done, the owner of the
restaurant looked at him strangely and commented, Yes,
it used to be that way some time
ago.
If you want directions to that church, go
up the road a piece, and turn right
at the next stop sign, then go up
a hill, and at the top of the
hill there will be a sign telling you
the way to that church.
Oh, what does the sign say?
asked the visitor.
The man paused, and with a sad look
in his eyes said, The sign says, CAUTION!
CHILDREN AT PLAY!
I'm sorry to say, friends, I've known churches
like that, too many, that once did great
things for God, and now there's a sign
out front that says, CAUTION!
CHILDREN AT PLAY!
I might not be the sharpest knife in
the drawer, but when I look at our
nation, I see on one end of our
country it's on fire, and the other end
is in a flood, and in between all
that is a plague that won't go away,
and the news reads like a page out
of the Old Testament, while our nation sinks
deeper in sin.
It looks to me like God is trying
to get our attention through these remedial judgments
that have so shaken our nation.
In former times, America looked to God for
guidance and to the church for direction, but
if the church is out of touch with
God and out on the playground, how can
she lead a nation back to the God
of the Bible?
How can righteousness exalt that nation if the
leaders are off out in the woods?
Maybe it's time we picked up our marbles
and dusted off our pants and got back
inside our sanctuaries and got down on our
knees to seek God's face and brokenness and
humility and repentance through earnest, fervent, desperate prayer.
Maybe, just maybe, if we quit playing around
and got serious with God long enough, then
he would get serious with us and send
us the revival and deliverance we so desperately
need.
God says in Malachi, return to me and
I will return to you.
We better hurry up and turn back to
God with our whole heart and serve him
with an undivided heart before we burn, drown,
and die.