A long time ago, God clearly laid out two paths for a nation. He outlined all the good things that would happen if that nation believed him, followed him and obeyed him; he also outlined all the bad, all the evil, all the suffering that would happen if they did not follow him.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
I think that every nation has that clear choice of two paths, though seldom is it laid out so clearly as it was to Israel some 3,000 years ago.
But it was laid out pretty clearly to the people of the fledgling United States some 200 years ago, and ironically through the voice of one of the least religious of the Founders:
I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it.' I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. - Benjamin Franklin
It was at that time that the congress of the United States, even as it was attempting to draft a constitution, began the tradition which continues today of praying at the opening of each session.
Since that time, however, we have drifted from the course of life. Indeed, some 50-60 years ago, the United States began to choose to abandon its allegiance and obedience to God.
Over the course of these recent decades, we have chosen to live and govern our nation by the man-made philosophies of Marxism and humanism, rather than by God's wisdom. We have made the choice to elevate sexual license over responsibility and God's plan for human sexuality. We have chosen to murder 50 million innocent unborn children rather than face the responsibility to nurture and care for the human life--created in the image of God--that our bodies have produced. We have chosen greed and the yoke of government over the light yoke of God.
And we are paying the price of choosing that path, just as God foretold 3,000 years ago. For our choices, we are receiving rampant crime, death, divorce, sexually transmitted diseases, high illegitimate births, poverty, and suffering.
We have chosen the path of death, and that is what we are receiving: death of innocence, death of dignity, death of spirit, death of hope, and death of life.
But God is patient and merciful. Even as wicked as Nineveh was, it wasn't too late for them to change their ways and turn back to God. God offered a chance like this to Israel, too.
And maybe there's a chance for America, as well.
WorldNetDaily reports that TheCall is calling on people to come to Washington D.C. August 16 for a 12-hour assembly of fasting and prayer for the country.
No one knows the future, but based on the clear and willful choices our nation (made up of its people) has been making means that God won't put up with our insolence much longer. And when that day comes, the suffering we've seen so far will pale in comparison.
Below is a video about this event, containing some footage from previous such events. Some of the folks in the video may seem radical to reserved Baptist types (I grew up Baptist) and to secular people. But it will take a radical change of direction to put our nation back on the course of life.
Consider joining TheCall in Washington Aug. 16. If you can't go, consider prayer and fasting wherever you are.
We face yet another choice at yet another crossroads coming in November. While those choices do not contrast as clearly as I would like, nevertheless they remain very different, and will produce radically different results.
Will we choose the way of life, or the way of death?
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