Too Late
Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day. 1 Samuel 8:18
Will Not Answer – America’s political beauty contest is over. America has a new king. While the world applauds the peaceful transfer of power, the righteous should quake. We have seen it all before – and all too often. The fatal flaw of humanity is the belief that we can find our own answers to problems. All we need is a new leader, a new perspective, a change in the right direction. The tragic mistake is that the same corrupted nature mounts the throne again. Change never solved anything. Righteousness is the only path away from judgment and destruction, and the rejection of righteousness as a way of life guarantees a terrible result no matter who sits on the throne. It’s only a matter of time.
Since the election, several prominent Christians have spoken out about the ineffectiveness of prayer to change the outcome of the election. I’m afraid that equating partisan politics with faith is myopic misunderstanding. Samuel told Israel long ago what the results would be for choosing to be governed like other nations. The fact that America changes its leaders by a democratic process doesn’t really matter. Nationalism is not faithfulness. It’s far more likely that prayer seemed ineffective because God is no longer answering. Generations of disregard for His commandments eventually construct a lead ceiling. Praying for Nineveh was pointless. What Nineveh needed was repentance.
It must have been an ominous day when Samuel uttered the words lo-ya’ane. Imagine being warned that God would not answer your pleas. What kind of life could you possibly expect knowing that God was no longer accessible? Yet this dire warning did not stop Israel. Why? Because Israel wanted to be like everyone else. Israel wanted a change. They looked at Egypt and Assyria and saw power and glory and wealth, and they said, “We want what they have.” They placed their hopes in men – and they got exactly what Man can provide – no guarantees of anything.
In the history of every civilization there is a tipping point, a point where God stops listening. The inevitable consequences are collapse, destruction and judgment. Who am I to say that we in America have reached that point? I am no prophet, certainly not like Samuel, but I can see that righteousness is no longer the model for living in my country. It hasn’t been for a long time. This path of “change” is as dangerous as it gets. And I’m afraid. I’m afraid that God might stop listening. This has nothing to do with who was elected president and who wasn’t. Frankly, I’m not sure that either choice could turn the tide. Ego, hubris, power and seductive promises riddled both sides of the aisle and the people voted their own morality. I am afraid because I read the history of Israel and I know the God of the Bible. I am afraid because I see civilizations that think they can ignore Him. None has ever escaped. I want the Lord to answer our cries, but I’m afraid. Maybe we’ve gone too far. Maybe it’s too late. I pray that it isn’t, but I know that the moment will come when it is, unless Nineveh’s response is ours.
Topical Index: Righteousness
