The people said that prayer in schools is not appropriate, so they made a law forbidding it. God’s Word says we should, “Pray without ceasing.”
The people said that the Ten Commandments have no place inside government buildings or on government property, so they had them removed. God’s Word says, “Follow my commandments.”
The people said that marriage should no longer be only for two people of the opposite sex, so they made a law. God’s Word says, “Marriage is between one man and one woman.”
The people said that homosexuality is not a choice and those who practice it should be celebrated. God’s Word says it is “an abomination.”
I was in school in 1963 when the fight to remove prayer from pubic schools began. One person, Madelyn O’Hare, started the movement and did not quit till the law was passed. My teacher at the time always led us in prayer and read a verse from the Bible at the start of each school day. He told us, his students, that no matter what law was passed, he would continue to start the day this way until someone came and physically removed him from the school. They never did.
Many cities felt the same way about removing the Ten Commandments and held their ground until they were forced to comply.
“The people” who insisted on these new laws were NOT God’s people (believers) but those who saw no need for God or His laws. These decisions for change were made simply because God’s people were silent and did not stand up and try to stop it. Once Christians had had enough and began to fight back concerning homosexuality, the LGBT community and same-sex marriage, they were forced to pay restitution, some lost their businesses and were treated as the enemy.
Finally, in 2016, God’s people began to embrace the Bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
America has since been blessed with a President and a Vice President who are working to protect, restore and defend our rights and religious freedoms of the past and present and to insure that God, Jesus Christ, and His laws are honored. Still there are many fighting against this and working hard to keep it from happening.
Between the times of the Old Testament and the New Testament there was a period of about 400 years that God was basically silent….but He was never idle. He was preparing the way and the hearts of men for the birth of His Son and the beginning of a new covenant with His people. Many prophets in the Old Testament told of a Savior, a Messiah who would be born.
As one prophet got too old to continue another one was chosen to take his place. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus…. for the sole purpose of paving the way for His arrival. Once again, “the people” spoke and God’s own Son was rejected, arrested and sentenced to die on the cross.
But even though He ascended into heaven, Jesus left us with the Great Comforter, His Holy Spirit, who lives in the hearts of all believers who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. He carries on, through us, the work Jesus started until He returns to take us home to the Father. He is preparing a place for us there with many mansions. If this were not true, He would have told us.
Many men of God have been chosen to lead us through the remaining wilderness called “life” until we reach the promised land of heaven. The twelve disciples of Christ were the first and among the last was Billy Graham, who was just recently laid to rest at the age of 99 years. The question many are asking today is: Who will take his place? Will a new voice rise above the others to help us continue the journey?
God said He will never leave us or forsake us and I believe someone will rise up…. not to replace Billy Graham, but to continue leading us as he did. But even if no one does, we are not alone and His Spirit is more than capable of seeing us the rest of the way. The lost among us are the ones most in need of a preacher.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Let us continue to pray that God will continue to bless His people and our nation as we work together to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. God’s word says, “it shall come to pass.” And the people said: “Amen.”
