Storm Clouds are Gathering
By George Stroh
February 18, 2013
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper… (Romans 1:28)
In Nebraska, where I grew-up, thunder storms often came in from the west in the late afternoon. You could look out on the western horizon and see the dark clouds peppered with flashes of lighting rolling towards you. We all knew that there was a thunder storm or worse coming soon and that it would be prudent to seek shelter. Today there are ominous looking storm clouds of a different kind gathering on America’s horizon.
As I write this, our national debt is more than $16.5 trillion and continuing to grow at the rate of about $4 billion per day. We are told that our unfunded liabilities for programs like Medicare, Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits are an additional $50 to over a $150 trillion. These incomprehensible and unprecedented numbers just boggle the mind and are warning, to change analogies, of an economic and financial train wreck just ahead!
In addition to our looming economic problems, America has other serious and growing problems. Exponential increases in all kinds of evil and ungodly social behavior including immorality, homosexuality, abortion, crime and corruption have resulted in the breakdown of families and a rapidly deteriorating civil society. Some have compared America today to God’s judgment of the Roman Empire near its end. The similarities between the downward path of the Roman Empire and The United States of America are amazingly similar and frightening.
In the light of these ominous warnings, what should we Christians and the church be doing? Should we just hunker down and get prepared for the storms that are coming or should we, like the Old Testament Prophets, be warning all who will listen of the coming judgments of God?
As Christians, we know that our economic problems, as well as our social, political and other problems are just symptoms and results of the underlying spiritual problem. The root cause is sin. People have rejected God and there is coming judgment for all who have foolishly rejected Him and His gospel; For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became foolish in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:21, 22)
God ultimately judges nations like the Roman Empire, America and all of the other ungodly nations. But more importantly, God will judge each of us individually and personally; So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12). Even though we care, the church can’t fix the economic, political and social problems or somehow save America from the coming judgment of God. But we can and we must boldly herald the gospel (good news) of our Lord Jesus Christ. The overwhelming problems facing America today should cause many more people to turn away from their sin and turn to our only Savior and God; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23, 24).
As Jesus once preached, so should His church today; “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”. (Mark 1:15) Maranatha!
