Days of Noah

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

‭[‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬]

Once a year Americans celebrate the idea of independence. We salute freedom from tyranny and remember the bravery of our forefathers that gave birth to arguably the greatest nation in history.

In his speech from Washington yesterday, President Trump used Independence Day as a backdrop to commemorate and celebrate this great American ideal of exceptionalism.

In contrast, the globalist ideology of our day is working hard to destroy the patriotic spirit of American exceptionalism, where an entire generation has been conditioned to be ashamed to be American.

Which begs the question. Is the ideology of American exceptionalism good or bad ?

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

Most patriots would agree that our once great nation is only vague resemblance of what it used to be. The fabric of our nation has clearly changed and the ideological dividing lines are more clearly defined than ever before. Many believe we now are closer to civil war than any other time since abolition.

Like many great empires before us, America is dangerously close to crumbling from within, falling under the enormous weight of immorality, injustice, and ignorance. The problem with today’s America is not government corruption or social tensions or media bias or any of those things.

The problem with America is spiritual depravity and the spirit of pride and rebellion against a Holy God.

Our Founding Fathers knew that America would only survive if her citizens remained people of virtue, morality and conviction.

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other..”

John Adams — October 11, 1798, letter to the officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts. Charles Francis Adams, ed., The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, (Little, Brown, and Co., Boston, 1854), 9:229.

The fierce spirit of independence and rugged individualism that historically defined our nation and the very patriots who founded it also created a culture of spiritual independence from Almighty God. Somewhere along the way the pursuit of wealth, prosperity and pleasure replaced the pursuit of God.

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

[Luke 16:13]

So where national independence can be a good thing … spiritual independence is death to a nation.

But spiritual independence from God is always replaced by spiritual dependence on other “gods.” Now our culture in many ways is defined by a spirit of entitlement, complacency, ignorance and immorality.

Dependent on the State

First, our nation is plagued by an unhealthy dependency upon the government. God never intended the state to provide benefits as much as to protect basic rights and freedoms. Government was ordained by God to reward good and punish evil. Government was created by God to provide a free and fair market for people to pursue financial gain and personal property. Government was created by God to preserve life and protect the most vulnerable in society from injustice and abuse.

The recent Democratic presidential debate, however, was a perfect example of politicians making promises that they can’t keep. Their message was clear.

“VOTE FOR ME and GET EVERYTHING FOR FREE!”

Free college education. Free healthcare. Free food. Free housing.

The welfare state has conditioned generations to become fully dependent on the government and with that dependency millions have relinquished the control of their lives to the state.

Dependent on the Bank

Second, our culture has grown dangerously dependent upon debt. The central bank and its network of credit lenders has effectively lured the majority of Americans into consumer debt. Our false sense of security is fragile and drives us to become slaves to our jobs, spending money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”

[Proverbs 22:7]

Markets may be good for now, but personal debt ratios are at an all-time high – forcing most families to live paycheck to paycheck. Another collapse like the one in 2008 or worse 1929 and this nation will come unraveled in despair.

Dependent upon Media and Entertainment

Ours is a culture plagued by dependency upon amusement, entertainment, and sports. This dependency has cultivated a culture of people who can no longer reason or think critically for themselves. It has created the soundbite generation who only regurgitates bits of information they glean from social media. The dependency on entertainment has created a persistent distraction and fosters an attitude of escapism.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

[Hosea 4:6]

Dependent on Drugs and Alcohol

Drug and alcohol abuse are rampant in our nation. Opioid overdose has become one of the leading causes of death among young adults. Suicide rates are skyrocketing out of control. This spirit of drug dependency is a satanic form of control and destruction that has been around for thousands of years. The Bible calls this sorcery — coming from the Greek word pharmakeia — which means using drugs and spells to control the mind.

“For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

[Revelation 18:23]

The dependency on drugs and alcohol is representative of the spiritual void left in the hearts and minds of so many today.

Dependency upon the Lord Jesus Christ

Only when our nation returns to total dependency on the Lord and acknowledges the One who gives us life and purpose, will this nation ever return to greatness in the eyes of God. God opposes the proud, independent spirit. But He gives grace to the humble and those dependent on Him.

We need a Day of Dependence if America is ever to survive the downfall to come.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

[Matthew 11:28-30]