Do you ever get the sense that the United States of America is on the brink … that we are approaching a tipping point? Do you discern that we stand at the edge of ominous cliffs, debt cliffs, family cliffs, moral cliffs, spiritual and emotional cliffs? Does anyone think that Organized Religion or Disorganized Politics can save the day? Dare we Americans think we are invincible in our own strength, lest the sun set on the land of the free and home of the brave. Indeed, every empire, dynasty and superpower before us ended up on the ash heap of history. Analysis reveals most superpowers lasted 200-250 years before their foundations crumbled and the disintegration came from within. Unless we learn the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them. In other words, our choice is HUMILITY OR HUMILIATION.
The solution is to return to our foundations. William Penn warned, “If we will not be governed by God then we must be governed by tyrants.” Benjamin Franklin said, “I have lived a long time and have observed that God governs in the affairs of men. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless we rely on His aid in this political house, we will be no different than the builders of Babel.” In other words, our choice is HUMILITY OR HUMILIATION.
2 Chronicles 7:14 announces, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” James 4:6b says “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” In other words, it is HUMILITY OR HUMILIATION.
At the core, our Foundation is the person of Jesus Christ. I find myself drawn more than ever to the unique message, death, resurrection and person of Jesus. There is something about Him that transcends religious, political and relational barriers. He is the climax of history and in Him I feel a surge of hope. He had no motorcades, no armies, no parades, no weapons or secret service. His tools were a towel, a cross, an empty tomb, a few scars and a handful of insignificant ragamuffins who became the most unstoppable force in human history. In time people everywhere said, “There is another King. His name is Jesus!”
Surely this can happen again. Isn’t God’s grace still available? If there was a first Great Awakening can’t there be a second? If God could reach the brutal Ninevites … can’t He do the same thing today? If a Nebuchadnezzar was reached … can’t our leaders be reached today? The choice is HUMILITY OR HUMILIATION.
Oh God, heal our land.
Books by Dennis Lee:
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