Grieving for the Nation
“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.” Jeremiah 9:1
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because he had such an unselfish concern and love for Israel. The people of Israel had become so wicked and disobedient to the LORD that Jeremiah wanted to run away from them so he wouldn’t have to deal with them or watch them descend further and further into sin and apart from Jehovah God, their loving and merciful Father. Did you ever have a situation from which you desired to run away? That reminds me of line in the old movie “Maverick” where Mel Gibson’s character, in trying to avoid a fight, said, “The man who runs away, lives to run away another day.” Folks can run all they want, but the problems never get resolved without tackling them head on. Jeremiah was wise enough to know that nothing good could come from such arrogant rebellion, and also that it was his duty to obey God, warn the people, and leave the results to God.
Our world today is no different than ancient Israel. Those who cry against sin, wickedness, and idolatry are few and far between. I don’t think that I have ever seen so many leaders who are supposed to promote law and order instead promote lawlessness and destruction. Those who dare to step out in faith in an attempt to warn of coming judgment are ridiculed and hated and are dealing with attempts to silence their voices just like ancient Israel concerning Jeremiah and the other prophets of God.
A large percentage of Americans claim to be Christians, yet where is the care, concern, and compassion for those who are lost? Sometimes the three “c’s” are difficult to find among Christians. It seems that selfishness has become the national past time leaving little time, energy, or desire to be involved in a helpful and merciful way for others. How did we get so far off track? I think one reason that we are seeing so much turmoil in our nation these days is because we Christians have fallen asleep at the wheel. Even before COVID-19, church attendance was down from previous years. I understand that folks who are not believers or who are “cultural” Christians are not going to make an effort to go to worship services on a regular basis, but those who are believers should make church attendance, Bible study, and prayer a priority.
I Peter 4:17 tells us: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” Why would unbelievers, those who are causing mayhem and destruction, those who are promoting ungodly policies in government, and our lost friends pay any attention to our words if they are not backed up by our lives? It is time to evaluate our lives, make changes if needed, and then take a stand for righteousness. Otherwise we will be defeated, in the short term. We know that, in the long term, God and His people will win out over evil, but God requires for us to not give up, give in, or surrender to the enemy. This coming Saturday, September 26, 2020, there is a call to come to Washington, DC to pray for a return to the Lord and to righteousness. Many who would like to attend will not be able to for different reasons, but we can pray for individual and national repentance, pray that the Lord will keep all who attend safe from those who would try to disrupt the event, and to pray for God’s mercy. This country has never needed prayer more than it does now.