How Did We Get Here?
I woke up on Election Day earlier than my alarm. I laid there thinking on the importance of this day. My first inclination was that I should spend this bonus time praying for our nation. The truth is I had begun praying days ago. I heard this question in my spirit, “Pray for what?” I chewed on this as I made my way to my study, via the coffee pot. I had been praying along the lines of electing the godliest leader. A leader that would protect the life of the unborn, reverse the marginalization of law and order, and restore wise fiscal stewardship.
“Pray for what” I asked the Holy Spirit, “help me to understand.” I really wanted to know. If I was off or praying from self-determined priorities, I wanted to change, and quick. Then I heard His sweet gentle voice, “Pray for the one that reflects God’s will, one who puts and helps others first.” (John 6:40, Proverbs 3:27, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10) I did and had peace in my spirit as I headed off for duty.
By mid-morning I had all but put the elections out of mind as the issues of the day demanded my attention. But the noise around me continued to remind me that there was a contest to be won, and a direction to be set. I was paying no attention until one of the voices that made up this noise, said something that stuck in my head. This person claiming to be non-partisan and not in support of either candidate said these words, “How did we get here?” As I thought on those words, the word “here” could be different for all of us. Later I watched voters being interviewed as they exited their precincts. I heard their “here.” How did America get to the “here” of depravity that one of the major issues of this election is the right to murder unborn infant human beings. That it is logical to cull the entire herd, for a sacred cow. That justice and rightness needs to take a back seat to acceptance and deception. That love and mercy can only be applied to the tolerant of wokeness that looks to gratify sensual cravings but withheld from those that stand for Truth and submission to God’s commandments.
The ink was not dry on the parchment of our Constitution, and the enemy was seeking our demise. Our enemy will never deploy before us on a field of battle like Santana’s army before the brave men of the Alamo. No, this lying, stealing, murderous coward came in like the Hellenists and their trojan horse. Every year we remember the anniversary of D-Day. On that day, the allies began the liberation of Europe with a massive beachhead in France. While the invasion started in France it was not for France alone. The objective was the whole of Europe.
Our enemy secured a beachhead during what is often referred to as the “Rebellion of the Sixties.” The enemy made his landing in the hearts of the simpleminded that were deceived by his influence. With them, an invisible army of minions, having their minds blinded from the truth, began to multiply. By corrupting the powerful, deceiving the simple, and making apathetic those that could affect change, he looked to destroy what God raised up as an example of freedom, liberty, and justice to the world. With small incremental advances our nation moved toward our present “here.”
2 Timothy 3:1 NKJV
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
“Know this…” Paul’s strong instruction to know carries the same insistency as used in his letter to the Romans. It is seen in other scriptures as well. (2 Peter 3:3, Jude 1:18)
“In the last days perilous times will come”
These last days and perilous times are viewed by some Christians that hold to a Biblical worldview, as the current “here.” I have always understood the last days as the time from Christ’s first appearance to His return. And I, as many do, think that we are in the last of the last days. The Lord said He would be back soon. That was a long time ago when He said it, so it must be a lot sooner now.
Perilous does not sound good, does it? Looking at its definition it means harsh, savage, difficult, dangerous, painful, fierce, grievous, hard to deal with. Some might think that I am pushing an extreme view of our present society. But this word describes a society that is void of virtue and running over with vices. Still do not agree with my “here.” Let’s let the Word of God judge.
2 Timothy 3: 2-4
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
That brings a strong formal accusation to some in our society. Being characterized as self-centered in all things and puffed up in “wokeness” to all kinds of unnatural perversions. Sadly, some in Christendom have allowed themselves to become deceived with the worldly. They show an outward pretense, a whitewashed fence, talk the talk but deny, deny, deny the power that faith in Christ should display. (2 Timothy 3:5, James 2)
Now the day after, we see that America overwhelmingly rejected the “here” that satan has brought our country to. Some tribute this to Christians that did not just pray but got out and voted. A red wave did sweep away the foundations laid by the Socialists, but there is still much work to do. I am not naive to think that they will just go away in defeat. The enemy waited decades for the right time and a charismatic minion to begin the dismantling of our republic. We will always have to defend ourselves.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
The Apostle Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is for Christians today as well. That despite the increase of evil, we need to continue in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The citizenship that is eternal is the Kingdom of God. We need to proclaim and lift up Jesus to our generations.