God’s Judgement?

God’s judgement is not an easy topic to discuss. Many of our prominent spiritual leaders shy away from or even go so far as to declare that God does not do “these” things. “After all, God is a God of love…!” And those who do speak truth are viciously attacked by the secular world and often by the religious world. Sadly, they all too often begin to backpedal. This could almost be considered understandable; they don’t want to jeopardize losing their voice entirely. They strive to maintain their respectability and credibility. First we must decide if God could or would judge us through disasters or personal crisis.

If we take a look at the history of the Old Testament, we find this same thing taking place repeatedly; God warning of His judgement and secular and spiritual leaders denying that God would do such a thing. These same spiritual leaders could be found preaching God’s blessing on His chosen people. This sounds eerily familiar as I listen to many of our spiritual leaders today.

I contend that the United States has positioned itself to receive God’s judgement and that God, being just, has no option but to judge this country’s rebellion against Him. I would also assert that we, as a nation, are beginning see this judgement.

Does God bring disaster? Yes! Following is just one example found in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 18:7-12

New King James Version (NKJV)

^7 “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, ⁸ if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

⁹ And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, ¹⁰ if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

¹¹ Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”

¹² And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.”

And in Lamentations we learn that both woe and well-being are determined by God.

Lamentations 3:37-39

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁷ Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
³⁸ Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
³⁹ Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?

In Jeremiah 18 we learn not only that God does plan disaster as judgement; we also find that we play a major part in that determination. And nationally, as well as personally, we responded as the Israelites did, “This is hopeless, we will do as we please.”

God is love. He does everything He can, within the limitation He has set for Himself, our freewill, to show us His love and to draw us to Himself. He is longsuffering in His mercy, wanting us to choose to know and love Him. God does provide protections and hope for those who chose to love Him. We will experience the trying times, but with His help.

Can we avert this judgement? At this point I don’t think we can on a national scale. This being said, we have the responsibility to try. His Word says if His people will turn from their wicked ways and seek Him, He will hear us, forgive our sin and heal our land. On the personal level, we turn from our stubborn independence and realize God knows more than we do, that He does love us, and wants good for us. We need to recognize that we have made a mess of things, that we have sinned, and do sin, and that we need Him to live and love well. Ask His forgiveness, accept the price Jesus paid for your debt, and seek Him.

America! Wake up! Family & friends! It is time for us, myself included, to wake up!

Laura