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The more I read my Bible, the more convinced I am that America is in terrible peril, and almost all of us are too blind and too
proud and too arrogant to see it. The devastating destruction of the Twin Towers was a national tragedy, indeed; but even that disaster pales in comparison to the tragedy that may be upon us at any moment. The Bible tells us quite clearly, in plain and simple language that we ignore at great risk to our eternal souls:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous (i.e. - loving riches and wealth),
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
II Tim. 3:1-5 The Bible tells us that in the last days we will love three things more than God:
ourselves, money and pleasure. These three things represent the attitudes prevailing in our society today. Can anyone deny that the largest majority of
people in this country today worship themselves, money, and pleasure, much more than they worship God? Love of self is "humanism", the most prevelant religion in America today.
Humanism is defined as an attitude, way of life, or doctrine centered upon self-serving human interests, and denying the supernatural power of God. This
doctrine teaches that man can find peace, joy, and a sense of self-worth within himself, as well as his own salvation; thus there is no need or desire for God.
In fact, humanism denies the very existence of God. Humanists want to completely deny the existence of our Creator; they have taken prayer out of our schools, and have taken the Ten Commandments and nativity scenes out of any public place. They do not want any program aired on television or any song played on the radio that mentions God. They are fighting to remove "One nation, under God" from our Pledge of Allegience.
They want to change our national motto, "In God We Trust". They are destroying the very foundation of our country, and our families. They are destroying our very souls.
The love of money is "materialism". Can there be any doubt that materialism is the the god of our society today? Never mind that the Almighty God clearly says;
"THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." (Ex. 20:3)
and also, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)
We ignore our Creator in search of the Almighty Dollar. Nothing is considered more important than getting ahead, and then getting even more. We think we have
to have big SUV's, huge houses, designer clothing, a nice thick stock portfolio; the list goes on and on. What a sad contrast to what the Bible teaches! The
Bible teaches that our goal should be: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. (Matt. 6:19-20)
We want these material things more than we want to serve the Almighty God. These things are more important to us than having a right relationship with Him.
They are more important to us than our children, who too many times get pushed aside, because Mommy and Daddy both have to work to pursue of the American
Dream. We want the almighty dollar so much that there are now literally dozens of outrageous challenges on television, where groups of people will do anything
and everything for a chance to win millions of dollars. And yet the Bible clearly tells us: "No man can serve two masters: for either
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon {money}.(Matthew 6:24)
The real irony here is that no matter how much we acquire, it is never enough. We always want a little more, a little better, a little extra. We can never find lasting peace and satisfaction in material things, so we always have to have more and more and bigger and better things in a never-ending search for satisfaction. Yet the message of the Bible is chilling:
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what would a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
Love of pleasure is "hedonism", our goal. Our byword today is "If it feels good, do it!" Whatever makes us happy; whatever feels good; we choose to indulge ourselves. We justify our actions with thoughts like, "I deserve it" or "I'm worth it". Our selfish focus is only on ourselves.... "I, I, I.... me, me, me.... mine, mine,mine." If we could just get over ourselves for a few minutes and think about what God wants instead of what we want, we might find that we would gain everything that is of eternal importance, rather than just those things that are fleeting and never satisfying, anyway.
The word of God is clear: When men worship themselves more than God, or money more than God, or pleasure more than God, then God will step back, remove Himself from the scene, and allow man's fallen nature to drag him deeper into damnation. We see the results of God stepping back in America today. Tell me if this isn't just exactly what is happening right here, right now in our country:
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:24-32)
Do you see the progressive nature of our society's downfall? Each time we harden our hearts and refuse to repent and bow in submission to God's holy authority in our lives, God withdraws just a little bit further and allows us to be sucked deeper and deeper into the miry quicksand of sin. I explained the way God withdraws, and the consequences, in a Bible study called "The Wrath Of God". It goes hand in hand with this study, so please read it, along with this one.
It is as plain as day that what is happening in our country today was written long ago. God is very clear about what He expects from us. He is also very clear about what our rewards will be, when we honor Him, or what our consequences will be if we ignore His holy word.
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Romans 2:5-8; NIV)
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