Later that night my son called me. He asked, "Why did God do
this?" I told him, "God did not do this, son. We have an
enemy, the devil, and if we should blame anyone, blame him". My son
then replied, "Why didn’t God stop it?" I said, "God is
not obligated to stop anything He didn’t start. He is not the author
of war, violence or death, the devil is, and he uses men to do so. It’s
not up to God, but men to stop it".
I continued to listen to updates on the news. I listened to misguided
ministers give their opinions. Some stated, "This was God’s judgment
on America for our sins". But, there were Christians who
died in the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and airplanes, who loved the
Lord. Were they being judged too? No, it was God’s arm of mercy that
embraced the twin towers to collapse in a heap, instead of falling over
and destroying other buildings and lives. It was His mercy that helped
steer the plane in Pennsylvania to fall to the ground, rather than hit
the White House, destroying our country’s Capitol, and more lived.
We have not seen God’s judgment on this nation. Judgment must begin in
the house of the Lord first. He will judge His people before He
pronounces judgment on this nation (1 Peter 4:17). Throughout the Bible,
we see that God has always brought MERCY, before He brought forth JUDGMENT
to His people when they cried to Him. He has always allowed
them time to repent of their ways, and to turn away from their sins back
to Him. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by
my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn
from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land" (KJV). In Jonah 1:2, God said
to Jonah, "Arise, go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against
it: for their wickedness is come up before me". When Jonah gave God’s
warning, the people believed God. They fasted in sackcloth and ashes,
crying onto Almighty God. The Lord showed mercy instead of judgment because they repented.
Is America filled with wickedness? What do you think? We say that this
is a Christian country, but we took prayer and God out of our schools,
government, and work places. We have penalized those who choose to pray
and mention God in these places. Ministers have preached from the
pulpits what men want to hear, instead of what they need to hear, so as
not to offend anyone. America calls sin an "alternative"
lifestyle. They allow people to worship everything in this country from
paganism to satanism, and call it freedom of religion. We say God is a
loving God and would not allow anyone to perish because of their sins.
We choose to come out of the closet instead of praying in our closet.
Let us judge ourselves, lest God does, and thank God for His attributes.
For the Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and
abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the
guilty…." Ex. 34:6-7.
If this was not God’s judgment, why then, did He allow this? I believe
it’s a wake up call to the church to pray for our country and one
another. God is trying to get our attention, and our attention He has
gotten. What the devil has meant for evil God has turned around for
good.
I do believe that it is a call to America to come back to the principles
this country was founded on, God. Although many lives were lost, their
death was not in vain. Out of this tragedy, many lost souls have found
life in the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior. The prodigals are coming
home. Church attendance has doubled, and in some areas tripled. Prayer
and the Pledge of Allegiance have been heard in our schools, government
and work places once again. We have a Godly President, who is not
ashamed to proclaim his faith in God, and His Word. "God Bless
America" is seen on every sign and poster throughout the country.
His mercy is calling this country to it’s first LOVE, Him. America was
founded on freedom of religion, the freedom to worship Him. God will
bless America as we become a blessing to Him. "In God We
Trust", should be imprinted in our hearts, not just on our
currency.
Although, the Church has been in a dream state, God has awakened us out
of our slumber and complacency to pray for our nation and Israel. Let us
not roll over and go back to sleep, but arise, for this is our hour to
shine!
