May God Bless America or Deliver Us From It

When you read through the Old Testament, you will see times when Israel was close to God, and you will see times when they weren’t. Seems to me that America used to be a lot closer to God. Now we aren’t.

What happens when a nation swings away from God?

When we think about Noah, we think about a wicked world being punished. When we think about Sodom and Gomorrah we think about wicked cities being punished. Throughout the Old Testament, whenever Israel turns from God, we see them punished.

In the face of all the ungodly things going on in this nation, from prayer and the Bible being removed from schools to debates over the 10 Commandments being displayed to much worse, can we really expect God to bless America? Do we even have a right to ask? Should we expect something else?

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:4-10

No matter what direction America takes, I want to encourage you today that, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.” Just like Lot was brought out before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, and Noah and his family were carried in the ark, God is able to deliver you.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 11:13-16

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to remember that although you are in the world, you don’t need to be of the world. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Pray for America and for revival, but remember – as Christians – your citizenship is really in heaven. Make a difference where you stand, and remember God is in control.