Decree For America

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises... The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.”

I think that get truer as each election cycle passes. Political promises don’t carry the same weight as political performance. The election has come and gone. Now we must deal with the real issues.

For some time I have focused on the condition of America and the destructive direction we are moving in as a nation. Our studies thru the Old Testament prophets and Revelation brought a clear, at least to me, a clear path to the removal of God’s hand of protection and provision by way of Americans rebelling and rejecting Holy God. I have tried to move away from that to preach on other topics but have been drawn here like a magnet. That may very well be due to the fact that for the last 38 days between my morning and evening times of prayer, I have spent more than 100 hours in prayer and Bible reading and studying. I have and am earnestly accepting the person direction of 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways and seek my face, then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.” And I thank God for those in this church and throughout our land that have also taken the dire warnings that are coming from the throne of God. This Tuesday we shall see.

I am not alone in this sense of urgency. I have told you often of the call from well-respected spiritual leaders across this land. Pastors from our own Southern Baptist Convention, from the Catholic hierarchy to non-denominational leaders, even Rabbis of the Jewish faith are calling on people to pray, repent, and return to God for healing, protection and provision of godly leadership.