Thursday, April 23, 2009

He has torn us to pieces...

I am tired. I feel like I have been shredded. It's too much sometimes. Ever feel like that? The weight and worry of everything is too much to carry. I believe that our nation that I love is under judgment. The experts are at a loss to explain the rapid evaporation of wealth and have no clue what to do. Everyone is watching for signs of life. In our beloved country, a recent court ruling has stated plainly what has been mostly unsaid. A judge ruled that the over-the-counter abortion pill (or morning after pill) cannot be restricted to 18+ women only. In part of the judges ruling he essentially says that science is our foundation in this country. When the Bible is removed as a foundation for a country or a person, all sense of right is suddenly relative. This of course has been going on for decades now..but we are seeing the fruit of being our own gods.

Can I tell you that I believe that our churches are being judged as well? When church becomes about something other than Jesus it ceases to be His Body. He will reclaim us. "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household..." 1 Peter 4:17 (TNIV) People are turning away from God, hearts are growing cold, churches are shrinking as people are tired of lifeless liturgy and lukewarm faith.

And yet there is cause for great hope! God is not done yet! Not only is the empowered church of Jesus exploding in the global South and East, but God is not done with our country...not yet! If the remnant will rise up; if the people of God will repent and truly pray, then God will hear and will forgive and heal our land. (2 Chron 7.14) He will come. He will come like the Mighty Warrior. He will come and heal and restore. The people of God will once again be the light that they are called to be. For what is God's purpose in judgement, if not to restore? If not to turn us from our own self-destruction?

Hosea 6:1-3 (TNIV) “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

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