"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."
- George Washington, President of the United States
A Biblical Response to the breakdown of the United States
According to most people, January 6th, 2021 was a date alongside December 7th, 1941 as a day of infamy. Senator Charles Schumer of New York said it will “live forever as a day of infamy”. According to other groups of people, it affirmed and sealed the beginning of the end of the greatest country on planet earth.
Both opinions of January 6th, 2021, are incorrect.
There is a greater truth to be understood considering politics and elections and who ordains and maintains the universe. The Almighty, Infinite Creator, God Himself. Chiefly, Jesus Christ. We read in Daniel 4:25 and following, about King Nebuchadnezzar who was driven from his throne in Babylon into isolation and lost his mind and faculties. Here is the passage below:
“...that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “ What have you done?” At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”
It is true that we elect politicians to govern over us, and we are ultimately a constitutional republic. They represent our ideals and values (at least they should), and we send them to Washington DC to enact laws and sends the power back to us, The People. But the two words that ring the loudest in the passage of Daniel, and what resounded with Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon, and Israel is that “Heaven Rules”.
What has been long forgotten in the evangelical and ‘Christian conservative” voting bloc, and even “woke Christians” (term does not jive but I use it for a purpose to make distinctions), is that the Sovereign God who rules from Heaven, has set the world He created in motion to complete His purpose in which He intended. His loving salvation of His elect (bride, the church) through the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and all unrepentant sin punished (justice) for all evil committed by the wicked.
Prior to Genesis, the counsel of the Godhead knew that man would fail in breaking God’s Word: “through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and death spread to all men because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12). As a result, we are a guilty, mass of humanity of sin living in us that must be addressed. All the prophets anticipated a Redeemer who would save the nation Israel and did not know how that would take place. The Jewish religious leaders anticipated a political takeover of Rome, but Jesus came to save people from their sin, this including the Gentiles, peoples from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
The preaching and teaching of the gospel of salvation to sinners (every creature) and the gathering of the saints has been the mission from the day Jesus sent out His apostles. (You could argue since He pursued Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they hid from Him.) The church (at large) in America, (not to say every single one) has “left its first love” as to say in Revelation 2:4 to the church in Ephesus. Christ is the reason we live, the reason we move, and the reason we have our being. He ordains and maintains; He builds His church.
The point of this article/blog is to say perhaps America is being cast aside by God, and yet He is raising up other leaders to fan the flame of the gift of teaching the gospel to our nation. We have failed as a nation and have failed our children in the home, have broken our marriage covenant vows, have become an adulterous generation, and have pursued our own lusts. We are consumed with social media, building bigger barns, and storing wealth for ourselves. The American dream is just exactly what it is, a dream. A fantasy. The Bible says to be happy with what we have. Take the advice from the Holy Spirit through the book of Hebrews writer: Hebrews 13:4-9.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”
Without being Christocentric, as a people, we moved off in the mode of idolatry and put our hopes and trusts in a fallible sinful group of people or a political party to solve all social problems. The goal was never to reform sinners (as noble as it may be). It was never to polish them up nice and get them to modify their behaviors and lives. It was never to make carbon copies of ourselves to the world. It was, is, and always has been to preach the gospel to every creature and make disciples. The authority given to Jesus Christ is to command us to do this See: Matthew 28:18-20 .
It is the saving work of Jesus Christ, the presentation of the gospel, and the call of God that makes wicked, sinful, prideful, self-centered, blind, slaves to sin- come to repentance by the grace of God. When the call of God makes a sinner alive (doctrine of regeneration) that brings glory to God. This is the purpose to why we live on earth.
The purpose is not to mourn over the defeat of a political candidate. The purpose is not to look to another human to solve our problems. The purpose is to look to the Scriptures and see the mirror that it is and mourn over our sin and ourselves. To be like the publican/ tax collector, that Jesus speaks of in Luke 18:9-14:
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Christians are also reminded not to fear whatever happens, but to trust the Lord. Many psalms speak to this and David is a proponent of trusting in the Lord. Take that phrase right now as you read this and do a search in the Bible and mainly in the Psalms and you will find many verses that speak to the positive end of trusting in the Lord.
As a Christian, we are to PRAY, be encouraged to keep on meeting with each other, fellowship with one another and move to the same goal, share the gospel, preach, and teach, evangelize our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, the uttermost parts of the earth. If Christians were invested to that end, God will receive the glory and God will bring about the increase, the harvesting of fruit to the labor we endeavor towards. Do not worry, have no fear. Trust in the Lord. Keep the faith, the most holy faith once delivered to the saints. Heaven rules, from eternity past to eternity future. God be praised.
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The Godcast with Josh Fritz is a podcast created to sharing Jesus Christ with the lost, exposing false teaching, encouraging the saints, and fortifying them with the truth of Scripture, resulting in the glory of God. If you feel spurred on to giving to this ministry please feel free to at the website: https://www.thegodcastwithjoshfritz.com
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