WHERE IS GOD?
Why is it that people in this nation lack faith and fear in something greater than themselves? Why is it that rates of religious observance have dropped drastically over the last 50 years, despite the enormous success our country and citizens have obtained? Does success not come from God?
Lacking belief means lacking a basic requirement to feel morality in this world. Believing, on the other hand, requires everything. It requires professional and personal sacrifice. It requires the understanding that freedom does not come from the government or corporations, but it comes from God himself.
We must be conscious of our morality. Stealing, kidnapping, murder, adultery and other forms of debauchery may give the sinner instant gratification and an immediate feeling of pleasure, but the fact is, they are breaking the spiritual paradigm that makes the world run smoothly. More so, they will find their morally corrupt being eating itself alive as they ponder over their past transgressions. Man today does not realize the impact that their actions have on the world around them. Take the example of the ramifications that a murder may have. Not only is the person who was killed taken from this world, but the lives of those close to that person are irreparably damaged. Never again will they feel safe or comfortable. In fact, they may seek revenge themselves.
We live in a society that is truly morally corrupt. Rather than those who fear and love God being praised, it is exactly the opposite. The people most adored in our world are those who openly transgress his commands. Corrupt politicians and businesspeople are our leaders. We must remember that worshipping anyone or anything other than God himself is the gravest sin of them all — idolatry. When we bend the knee to those people and those things that beg for our praise, we are openly revolting against God’s sovereignty over the world.
The United States of America was founded on the strong foundational belief in a higher power. Our Founding Fathers understood that the success of the new nation would not be due to the righteousness of men, but rather from the kindness of God. They recognized that the early success of the nation and our independence was divine providence itself. Look no further than the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation. What we today use as a holiday to watch football, get drunk and stuff ourselves with turkey, George Washington saw as “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Think of how far we have strayed from those prophetic words.
Most ironically, yet not surprisingly, it is in times of crisis and death that even the most ardent opponents of faith come to the realization of God’s supremacy. They turn to him in prayer and supplication, looking for answers and for strength. They realize they have nowhere else to turn. This is not how things should be. Faith is not a tool to be used only when it is convenient. Faith is a lifelong struggle with God, culminating ultimately in the one idea that is common to all people — death. It is in the last moments of a person’s time on earth that they turn to their creator and reflect on their past. They think of the good and the bad, begging for mercy. Why can’t we turn to our creator always?
It is true that Abraham begged God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah to save the righteous. God complied, but ultimately the transgressions of the cities were too great to even save their good.
I pray that we can turn ourselves around before it is too late.