On this very day, millions, if not hundreds of millions, are waking up, getting out of bed, and going about their day, when suddenly, their tv show is turned on to some preacher, politician, concerned citizens, or public spokesman who is speaking about their nation. They, being interested by itching ears, listen to the person speaking, and quickly understand that the spokesman is discussing the problems the nation they live in and how if left unchecked, they would have very negative consequences for that nation. Clearly, this upsets the person watching, and in a deceived mind, they say or think, "What rubbish, the Lord would never allow it," Or, "we're safe, after all, the Lord would never destroy my nation".
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is never a good idea to let a problem go unchecked, no matter if it affects just you personally, or a nation. Unfortunately, many people, including Christians, do just that, with very dangerous and hurtful consequences. And while unexpected things such as shortages, disasters, and wars do happen, one of the worst things one can do is offset these events by refusing to solve a national problem, of which would make the problem worse.
God gave the nation of Israel certain rules of conduct and national policy to follow. When Israel did followed these rules, they where blessed, and when they didn't follow them, bad things happened. God didn't always punish Israel right away, but he did give the nation both mercy as well as judgements in response to the attitude of the nation. If the nation repented and strives to solve the problem, God forgave them and blessed them. When they refused to repent and ignored the problem, the nation suffered, and in several cases, God allowed other nations to conquer them.
Now while the nations in question may not be Israel, and are not required or recommended to follow the Levitical law to a tee ( large Portions of the Levitical law are in effect as the best rules for nations to follow), the process is exactly the same. If a nation is in trouble and turns to God and strive to solve their nations problem, God will forgive that nation. If the nation refuses Gods mercy and to solve the problems, than there is nothing left for the Lord to do but punish that nation, not epically at first, like the Babylon empire or Sodom and Gomorrah, but rather to get there attention. After a while, if the people did not repent and try to solve the problem, then the Lord would have to use more drastic measures, eventually, if those did not work, allowing a group of righteous people to succeed form the nation, sending foreign invaders, or generally destroying the nations ability to function as a nation, even artificially.
The problem is that many people confuse God with their Nation. They do not view God as a merciful yet righteous father who wants to extend his mercy to those who will receive it, but would have to one day demand justice for one's sins and refusal of that mercy. Rather, They view God as someone who cannot possible touch their nation for worse. They've essentially began worshiping their nation as an idol, a god that does not need to be maintained, whom even the Lord can not touch. When this happens to a large enough percentage of the population, (sometimes as little as 15% of the nation), Problems don't get fixed, they get worse. The Patriots of that nation, the ones who defend it and who actually work to fix the nation, begin finding themselves shortchanged, short handed, lied too, and generally tossed to the sidelines more often than not. More and more people begin to adopt this attitude, especially if it's preached to children in schools, museums, churches, and other learning centers, less and less people are willing to go out and get their hands sweating and their noggins thinking, and the people who are willing are beginning to waver in moral, ability, and weather the cause is worth fighting. As this happens, the Lord begins trying to wake people up, but if that does not work, then he must fulfill his need of justice. Ultimately, it boils down to this: lack of asking for mercy and trying to solve the problems of the nation results in God reining down judgement, but accepting that mercy and repenting while trying to resolve the problems of that nation is counted as justice itself in Gods eyes.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is never a good idea to let a problem go unchecked, no matter if it affects just you personally, or a nation. Unfortunately, many people, including Christians, do just that, with very dangerous and hurtful consequences. And while unexpected things such as shortages, disasters, and wars do happen, one of the worst things one can do is offset these events by refusing to solve a national problem, of which would make the problem worse.
God gave the nation of Israel certain rules of conduct and national policy to follow. When Israel did followed these rules, they where blessed, and when they didn't follow them, bad things happened. God didn't always punish Israel right away, but he did give the nation both mercy as well as judgements in response to the attitude of the nation. If the nation repented and strives to solve the problem, God forgave them and blessed them. When they refused to repent and ignored the problem, the nation suffered, and in several cases, God allowed other nations to conquer them.
Now while the nations in question may not be Israel, and are not required or recommended to follow the Levitical law to a tee ( large Portions of the Levitical law are in effect as the best rules for nations to follow), the process is exactly the same. If a nation is in trouble and turns to God and strive to solve their nations problem, God will forgive that nation. If the nation refuses Gods mercy and to solve the problems, than there is nothing left for the Lord to do but punish that nation, not epically at first, like the Babylon empire or Sodom and Gomorrah, but rather to get there attention. After a while, if the people did not repent and try to solve the problem, then the Lord would have to use more drastic measures, eventually, if those did not work, allowing a group of righteous people to succeed form the nation, sending foreign invaders, or generally destroying the nations ability to function as a nation, even artificially.
The problem is that many people confuse God with their Nation. They do not view God as a merciful yet righteous father who wants to extend his mercy to those who will receive it, but would have to one day demand justice for one's sins and refusal of that mercy. Rather, They view God as someone who cannot possible touch their nation for worse. They've essentially began worshiping their nation as an idol, a god that does not need to be maintained, whom even the Lord can not touch. When this happens to a large enough percentage of the population, (sometimes as little as 15% of the nation), Problems don't get fixed, they get worse. The Patriots of that nation, the ones who defend it and who actually work to fix the nation, begin finding themselves shortchanged, short handed, lied too, and generally tossed to the sidelines more often than not. More and more people begin to adopt this attitude, especially if it's preached to children in schools, museums, churches, and other learning centers, less and less people are willing to go out and get their hands sweating and their noggins thinking, and the people who are willing are beginning to waver in moral, ability, and weather the cause is worth fighting. As this happens, the Lord begins trying to wake people up, but if that does not work, then he must fulfill his need of justice. Ultimately, it boils down to this: lack of asking for mercy and trying to solve the problems of the nation results in God reining down judgement, but accepting that mercy and repenting while trying to resolve the problems of that nation is counted as justice itself in Gods eyes.
