History repeats itself. The Old Testament alone is filled
with examples of repeated bondage, repentance, redemption, ingratitude, a
turning away from God, judgment, and back to bondage. Over, and over, and over
in our world’s
history, this pattern is repeated. Yet people naively believe that because
yesterday was fine, and today was fine, that tomorrow will be fine as well.
This belief is a failure to understand the lessons of history.
If you ever visit the Holocaust museum, there is a room
where you can see all the newspapers that printed headlines merely alluding to
the genocide of the Jews that was occurring overseas. When you put all of the
headlines together, it becomes obvious that we knew what was happening. We had
to know. There was no way for us not to know.
Immediately following Germany’s defeat in WWII, those Germans who
lived near the camp at Buchenwald were taken on a tour of the facilities. Upon
arrival, they were upbeat and smiling. Perhaps some thought of it as just an
outing in the country to view some innocuous army building. They were in for a
horrifying surprise. When they left, their faces were contorted. Some were
sobbing like children. The thoughts must have gone through their heads, “How
could this Evil have been happening in our own backyard? How were we so deaf to
the screams, so blind to reality?”
The warning signs of that reality were everywhere. People
chose not to hear it or see it. Not until they faced the grim consequences of
their actions or inactions were they able to comprehend what Evil had been at
work, and they were grieved by it.
Since the election, I have heard a constant stream of “Chill
out. Things won’t
be that bad. Don’t
be such a fear-monger. It doesn’t matter who is President because Jesus is King.” While
I understand the sentiment behind these well-meaning statements, I cannot help
but find them to be wildly inappropriate.
The warning signs are everywhere. We are headed down a dark
path that has never ended well for any nation, regardless of how prominent they
were in the world. People can choose not to hear it or see it. Elections have
consequences. Choices have consequences, whether those choices are made through
action or inaction. Evil is at work, and the proper response is to be grieved
by it.
God is grieved when I sin. His response is no different when
a nation turns its back on Him. He prospers us. We become greedy. He gives us
freedom. We abuse it. He gives us power. We think ourselves invincible. He
blesses us more than any people in the history of the world. We give ourselves
the credit.
This is reality. This is not fear mongering.
However, not all is lost yet.
“If My people who are called by My name 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 will heal their land.”2 Chronicles 7:14
Just as the lessons of history are constant, God remains the
same. My hope, my trust, my faith are in Him. That is why I can grieve over the
darkness and not be consumed by fear and worry. That is why I can rest in the
comfort that no matter how bad things might become, my life is in His hands.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”John 16:33
This is reality. Reality is calling. Will you answer?
