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.
One of those is David Jeremiah who is one of the most well respected evangelical leaders of our day, one of the best biblical writers and teachers of our day . A few weeks ago he went to see Billy Graham to present him with an autographed copy of his new book which features the influence Dr. Graham has had on America. While in NC, Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, met with David Jeremiah and while they were visiting David said, “I want you to know how much we appreciate what your father did in placing adds in the newspapers in North and South Carolina concerning the marriage amendments. That had a tremendous effect on the outcome of the vote. Some of you may know that North & South Carolina had to do what so many states have done and that is to add a state constitutional amendment to define marriage between a man and a woman. Billy Graham urged N & So Carolinians to vote biblical values and they did and they have the amendment. Jeremiah told Franklin that this is something that should happen nationwide, the Billy Graham should urge all Americans to vote biblical values. Franklin took it to his dad, Dr. Graham liked it and told Franklin to tell David to make it happen.
When David checked into the cost of such advertising it was one million. In nothing short of a miraculous set of events he made four phone calls and in just 4 days he raised 3.9 million and put this in every major newspaper in America last week. This is how the add read.
"The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.
"I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God."
It’s no secret that America has lost the respect for the authority of Scripture. I don’t believe it has to stay that way. I am believing, hoping, praying toward a 3rd Great Awakening. My prayers are consumed with my own need of a changed heart, godly strength, godly courage, and motivation to preach this with God’s passion. I know the need for myself and I want to encourage others to do the same, to have godly direction and a righteous vision for the future. We’ve have a huge challenge before us in reclaiming America for God’s divine purpose. I can sense a transformation in me and I covet your prayers as I seek God’s heart for me personally and for us as a church.
There are three major points in the add and the reason for the three major points is to give clear direction to the three major points given in opposition to abortion on demand, gay marriage, and the division of Israel at the DNC.
Each of these choices of debauchery can be seen in previous nations that have fallen from power in the past to include the nation of Israel. Christians should have answered these immoral decrees with a resounding vote of support for righteousness, for morality, for biblical values that reflect a passion for Holy God and His authoritative holy word. However, that didn’t happen and we must recognize the warning seen on a national level as well as a personal level.
In Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
The other day I saw a facebook post from someone we know who claims to be a Christian although you wouldn’t know it from the story. In the short paragraph relayed an incident with some very colorful language, correction, filthy language, unbecoming to a lady, even more so unbecoming to a Christian. And let me just say Christian brothers and sisters, “I am so heartbroken over children making statements like, “well, so and so does it and they go to church.” It’s time we stop excusing our actions. It’s past time for God’s people to grow up. If we claim Christ, then we ought to let Christ claim our mouths, amen?
Anyway, this person let it fly so to speak, and at the end there was a prayer request for someone she loved and missed. I read that and I thought to myself, “you’ve got to be kidding. How insensitive to the holiness of God can we be?” But isn’t this the accepted norm for our day? Women walk out on stage, half naked with a cross hanging between obviously over inflated parts and thank America for the award then make the statement “God bless you!” and everybody ooos and aaaahs. A musician spends 3/4ths of a song talking about sinful living and in the middle somewhere puts “Jesus” or “church” and people of faith bless it and say he or she is Christian.
Recently at a fundraiser, president Obama introduced Bruce Springsteen and Jazee as entertainers who “represent what America has become.” Jazee’s “song” (I don’t call it music) was filled with filth, the “N” word, the “F” word, replace “B” word with Mitt, talked about “Ho’s” and this is a “Presidential” fundraiser, with people who represent what America has become.
I must say it’s disappointing that this is accepted as presidential, but the most disturbing thing is that he was right. And most disturbing is that Christians or so called Christians consider this entertainment worth buying.
Listen church, this is what God, our Heavenly Father speaks into our lives.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Peter goes on to say in verse 9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
The Bible teaches us that we are in this world but so many Christians are not only in this world they are in bed with this world. We can’t make a difference if we are the same. So, back to the facebook encounter. I wrote this person a note on facebook and tried to appeal to her from a Christian perspective because I honestly have a heart of compassion for her. I’m telling you it broke my heart when I read this. She’s a beautiful young girl with a beautiful little boy and unless she changes that little boy will never see Christ in his mom and he will grow up thinking God is a joke just like so many young people are doing today. They look at their parents on Sunday and then they see them the rest of the week and their Christianity is a joke.
God has called us priest, Royal Priest, is the term. Now let’s back up to an Old Testament passage that deals with our position before God and the role of the priest.
Malachi 2:
“And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.”
Honoring God in our daily lives and in our national life is serious. He says “I will curse your blessing.” I will turn your freedom to captivity. I will turn your progress into retreat. Your advances in humanity will become snares to entrap your offspring.
Malachi 2:
4 Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
Can you think of a NT parallel passage to this? I know you can, but since I already thought of it, let’s see the parallel in Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Malachi 2
8 But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.
Now here’s the challenge:
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.”
From Aaron Fruh’s website: decreeforamerica.com
Personal Responsibility for you and I that will determine the Strength of America
The United States of America is a nation of people designed by its founders through its Constitution and later expressed in its Pledge of Allegiance to operate with responsibility to God, responsibility to others, and self-sacrifice. A culture of responsibility, at its core, assumes attention to the reality of a transcendent Creator-God and the Creator’s expectations of His creation, and encourages attention to needs beyond one’s self.
America’s view of responsibility has suffered deterioration since its inception. Erosion accelerated through the latter half of the 20th century and first dozen years of the 21st century. It has now all but disappeared from public consciousness and has gradually been replaced by a sense of entitlement that is becoming more firmly entrenched each day.
The ideology of entitlement is driven, not by a transcendent Creator or attention to others, but by greed, self...my needs, my desires, my rights, my comfort. It is beyond mind boggling that contraceptives have now become a woman’s right.
So we stand on the threshold of fundamental change. If the direction of the heart of America is to be changed, it will depend on Tuesday’s outcome, but most importantly, it will depend on American Christian’s response to this cry from the heart of God.
Decree for America National Committee
The Decree for America as seen at DecreeForAmerica.com reads:
We, the people of the United States of America, with heartfelt conviction and respect for our Constitution, do humbly submit this Decree for America.
I. LIFE. We decree that human life possesses intrinsic dignity from the moment of conception until death. We decree that life begins at conception, and a baby in the womb is a living soul. We refute the culture of death established by Roe v. Wade and the expansion of such culture by current laws that legalize abortion on demand, in any stage of pregnancy. We further refute the implication that all Americans be required to invest their tax dollars in the slaughter of unborn children. Furthermore, we refute the ideology that encourages euthanasia, thereby erasing those who have been deemed to have lives "not worth living." We decree that God has entrusted us as His guardians and agents to protect life.
II. FAMILY. We decree that marriage is between a man and a woman exclusively. We proclaim and decree that marriage laws in America will always adhere to the biblical worldview that marriage is a holy covenant before God between a man and a woman committed to lifelong fidelity and purity. As people of faith, we refute the movement to redefine marriage as simply a romantic relationship between people, and we refute maneuvers to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. Marriage is a monogamous relationship with a core value of procreation. We support the first commandment in the Bible given to a husband and wife that they should produce fruit through bearing and raising children. We decree that marriage laws in America will not include unions other than those between a man and a woman.
III. AN UNDIVIDED ISRAEL. We decree that the land of Israel shall not be divided. Out of heartfelt conviction we passionately support the Jewish state of Israel and see in it God's promise and fulfillment of the covenant between the Jewish people and the land itself. We proclaim that Jerusalem has always been the holy and anointed spot of Jewish history, and we declare it will always be the indivisible capital of Israel. We decree that never again shall the Jewish people forfeit their land and their city.
We decree that we cannot support a so-called "right of return" by Arabs into Israel, designed to demographically denude Israel as a Jewish state and culturally and religiously transform it from a free society into one under Sharia and absolutist control. To ensure Jerusalem's survival we strongly, without equivocation, endorse a policy that leaves Israel in a stronger military position against her manifold surrounding enemies. As with our forebears, we remain biblical Zionists who recognize the merit of being participants of Israel's ingathering of her exiles and the rebirth of the biblical land.
Our only hope is to recognize our only hope. Yes I said that right. We must obey 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.” then we must obey Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
