America's Only Hope

AMERICA’S ONLY HOPE

Text: Prov.14: 34

Intro: September 11, 2001 is a day that is not soon to be forgotten by those Americans who still have an ounce of patriotism left in them. It is a day branded into our consciousness by the horrendous events, and vivid scenes of destruction and chaos that leapt from our TV screens last Tuesday. It is a day that very literally fills our hearts with indignation, disgust, and anger. The very thought that a country, or group of individuals, unprovoked, would perpetrate such senseless acts of violence is beyond our understanding.

The mixed bag of feelings and emotions that our nation presently experiences are to be expected. After all, how does one make sense of such calloused and cold acts of this magnitude against innocent human beings? How does ones mind comprehend the snuffing out of thousands of lives meaninglessly?

Without a doubt, it will take a long time for our nation to heal. But it will heal. One of the things that will foster this national healing is the willingness of our people to seek God in prayer. Though it has been encouraging to see our president and others call the nation to prayer, it is sad that it took such a terrible tragedy to get people serious about it.

I do not wish to dampen feelings of patriotism today. Nor do I wish to minimize the dastardliness of what has been done to our country. But may I suggest to you today that America must bear part of the responsibility for what has happened. And before you run me out of town on a rail, hear me out.

For years preachers have stood and faithfully proclaimed the truth of God’s Word concerning the fact that God judges sin. They have pointed out the depravity of our country, and how far it has departed from God. This preacher himself has commented from a number of pulpits over the years, that if God does not judge America for her sin, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. But the fact is folks God always judges sin. And whether we like to admit it or not, this attack on America is part of the judgment of God upon this nation because she has forsaken Him.

I believe that not only must America respond and retaliate in this situation, but she must above all, repent. America must return to God. America must return to the principles that helped to make this nation great. America’s only hope is God.

Theme: America’s only hope is:

I. REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD

A. We Need A Change Of Attitude.

1. Many Americans seem to have no shame when it comes to sin.

Jer.8: 12 “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.”

2. We should never view our sin casually or flippantly.

Rom.7: 12 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

NOTE: Our nation has become extremely flippant about sin, as Rev. Joe Wright stated in his opening prayer before the Kansas Senate. He prayed:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess that:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism,

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery,

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare,

We have killed our unborn and called it choice,

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable,

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem,

We have abused power and called it politics,

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition,

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression,

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent: to direct us to the center of Your will and to openly ask these things in the name of Your son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Taken from http://www.good4asmile.com

B. We Need A Change of Actions.