Musical Notes and Thoughts

Will we repent? Will we seek first and foremost after Christ, or will we look primarily for and to a human “political savior”?

The choice we make matters. To me, it seems like the far Left truly is hell-bent on our destruction. One looks at the cities and areas where they have been, and are, in charge, and one sees ruin and destruction. For example, I lived many years just outside of Portland, Oregon. Not that many years ago it was a beautiful fairly safe city. The downtown waterfront along the Willamette River was something truly special. Those days are gone. Portland has become an unmanaged mess, with no end in sight.

But, are answers to be found in the political Right? As just mentioned, we must look first to Jesus. We must look to Him for answers, to pray and intercede for our cities, our states, our nation.

The scary thing is that if we do not, at some point God may very well tell us that our time is up. When reading through Jeremiah, things in Judah had gotten so bad that three times God tells Jeremiah, “Do not pray for these people.” We see that in Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, and 14:11. Things had deteriorated for decades; they had refused repentance for so long that God’s judgment against the nation was set. A few people did remain faithful to God. But at that point, from the kings on down, most people had sold themselves to do nothing but evil.

We see it confirmed after Jerusalem’s fall. Even in spite of God’s judgment, what do the people declare (especially the women)? They say they will go on sacrificing to the “Queen of Heaven”. They are so lost, they are so committed to their own evil ways that they think their failure to sacrifice to their favorite idol was what caused their demise. Even after God’s judgment, they continue their rebellion.

Do we really want to pretend that things are fine, and that God will let us continue on as we are? At this late hour, is that a wise choice?

Consider Jeremiah 5:30–31 (ESV): An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

As for our nation in general, think about Isaiah 5:20–23 (NAU): Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

Micah 2:11 (ESV): If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the preacher for this people!

Think about how our culture is embracing evil; calling evil good and good evil: for example, how dare one think that there are only two sexes: male and female. Is that really where we want to find ourselves? Haven’t we become heroes at drinking bouts and drug taking? Think of our celebrity heroes and sex-obsessed pop music.

Wouldn’t it be better if all of us who are pastors and teachers to focus on and proclaim what is biblically true? Would it not be better for those who claim to know Christ to change, and to start living in accord with what Scripture declares?

Would it not be better if all of us would stop and reflect? Doesn’t the Isaiah passage describe where all too many of us are currently at? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that God’s judgment will follow.

May God, in His mercy, at this late hour, wake us all up. May we seriously consider the consequences of where our nation is heading and change accordingly. May we humble ourselves before God and repent.