Are We Ripe For Judgement?

There was an interesting survey being taken on CNN.com last night in light of the "Super Tuesday" Presidential primaries and caucuses being conducted among 22 states. The survey asked the following question: "Which is most important to you about the person you will vote for to be President? Their character or the issues they stand for?" (This was the gist of the question, not a word for word quote). Not suprisingly the majority of those polled answered in that the issues their candidate stood for were more important to them than was that person's character. What was surprising is that the number of Americans more concerned about the issues than the character of the next U.S. President was 62%! Two-thirds of this nation's population care more about the issues their candidate stands for than they do about that person's moral character!

This is certainly not a surprising trend in this country as we look at the downhill moral slide of our society as a whole over the last 20 years. In 1988, when Gary Hart was running for the democratic nomination for President, his sexual improprieties that came to light during that election year forced him to withdraw himself from the race for President. In 1988 this nation still evidenced some moral integrity by not tolerating nor allowing a person involved in sexual scandal while in public office to be a candidate for the highest office in the land. However, it didn't take long for those moral standards to decay and falter. Just four years later, in 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton would seek the democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States. During that campaign his sexual improprieties and scandals as Governor came to light. The result? Not the same as Mr. Hart only four short years earlier. Not only did Bill Clinton not withdraw from the race, he was elected as our President. Four years later he was re-elected even after it was proven that those alleged adulterous affairs were true. Not only that, but his adultery while in office with Monica Lewinsky did not keep the majority of Americans wishing Clinton could run for a third term. And had he been able to do that, he likely would have been re-elected to a third term. Thank God for term limits!

It is certainly no surprise then that yesterday's CNN survey showed two-thirds of the people of this land more concerned about political issues than moral character and stability. Shouldn't someone point out to that vast segment of the American public that political issues and decisions by any standing President will come from the lens of that person's world view and moral character? That the decisions any President makes stems from their view of right or wrong - and that this has everything to do with character, not political stands, statements or issues!?!

Shouldn't someone inform the American public and the candidates for the Presidency of the United States this year about the clear statement of Proverbs 14:34 - "Righteousness exalts a nation. But sin is a reproach to any people."? Shouldn't we remind them and ourselves that if we don't learn the lessons of history we are doomed to repeat them? Every great nation and empire that once was a major world power and is no longer in existence today did not disappear because another nation or empire conquered and destroyed them. They fell from within. They imploded. Whenever the moral fiber of that nation or empire fell to an all-time low, God judged and destroyed that nation? Whatever would make one think that the United States is the exception to that rule when the Scriptures reveal God to be unchanging in His nature and character? If you think that those nations fell because they were either not as smart as us or more ungodly than America - think again! Listen to the words of Yeshua to a group of people in Luke 13. I am, for the sake of what I've been telling you here, going to change just one word in that text without changing the meaning of the statement. I will substitute the word Galileans with the word Nations. Ready? Here it is, Luke 13:2,3 - "Do you suppose that these Nations were worse sinners than all other Nations, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

Are we ripe for judgement America? You better believe it! Wake up! Repent and believe the gospel!