The Flickering Light of America
Whatever happened to the “shining city on a hill,” as President Reagan and other leaders once used to describe America? The description, of course, originated with Jesus Christ. Yet our nation, once a shining flame of freedom, is well on its way to becoming a flickering ember of debt, despair, dissension, and defeat. It does not have to continue.
Who bears the greatest responsibility for this predicament? I believe Christians do—those believers who are called to be light and reveal “The Light” of the world in order to inspire the ongoing presence of a true shining city that cannot be hidden.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that we as believers are both salt and light. Salt helps preserve that which is precious and important while enhancing the flavor. Likewise, the Christian witness should have a positive effect on every aspect of life and culture. Jesus said that if salt loses its effect, it is good for nothing but to be trampled under the feet of men. Sure enough, everything sacred is being trampled under the feet of those who consider God unimportant or non-existent. Faith, family, and freedom are being trampled by many who call themselves liberals, socialists, progressives, and activists.
The multitudes are stumbling in darkness because many who have been commanded to put the light in a prominent place—on a lampstand—have actually hidden and diminished their influence on the public by accepting religious coverings, false comfort, compromise, and complacency. Light reveals danger and pitfalls while illuminating the path to security and success. Is it any wonder we are in such trouble when salt and light fails to fulfill its divine assignment?
While it’s true that these are “the last days,” this in no way justifies a lack of commitment and action. Don’t use foolish, fatalistic apathy to dismiss personal responsibility or reassign blame. The apostle Paul, the disciples, and New Testament Christians believed they were living in the last days. Still, they did not rest. They faithfully began a spiritual revolution, turning their upside-down world right-side up. They were bold, fearless, and uncompromising witnesses. They could not help but speak the things they had seen and heard because they had experienced more than mere words or religion. They were moved to action by the Spirit of God, overflowing from them and controlling every aspect of their lives.
Paul continually warned people day and night with tears, calling for repentance. He challenged every one of us as true believers to “fight the fight of faith as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He urged us to put on the whole armor of God, fighting against the principalities and powers of darkness. Peter commanded believers to be alert and diligent because their adversary continuallystalks like a “roaring lion.” Jesus commanded us to make disciples of the nations. He sent us in the midst of wolves but not to be devoured by the wolves. We are to be ambassadors for truth, overcomers in this life, more than conquerors, walking over all the power of the enemy because the might of His kingdom presence prevails in our personal lives, enabling us to lift Jesus up so high He draws all men unto Himself.
Do not accept “last days” apathy. We are to be witnesses until He comes. We do not accept defeat, and we do not give one square inch of our lives or our land to the enemy without fighting for everything Jesus died to redeem. We do not love the world or the things in this world at the expense of loving God and our neighbors. We are anxious to share and bless as we are blessed, and we do not allow our possessions to possess us. Remember, it’s not what we have that’s the issue, but what “has” us. Do not be distracted from your divine assignment. Now is the time to awaken, gird up your loins, lift the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and go out to win the battle against the devil and the godless, self-serving, and meaningless promises of mere men.
The Lord is our hope and Christ in us, the hope of glory revealed through us to a world in darkness, despair, and defeat. Arise and shine! Become salt, preserving and protecting the precious—beginning with the lives of the unborn—and freely offer help to the hurting. Become the light, revealing the way out of the pit and back into the promised blessings of God upon all who acknowledge He is Lord! We can rejoice again in the blessings of the Lord and freely share them with others.
INDIVISIBLE by James Robison and Jay W. Richards debuted at No. 5 on the New York Timeshardcover nonfiction list and No. 2 on The Wall Street Journal list. It also has appeared at No. 1 on both amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. The book is available at bookstores everywhere. For information, go to indivisiblebook.com. Consider getting a copy for pastors, priests, business leaders and neighbors. The liberating truths are ours to freely share!
This article was written by James Robison
6 comments:
April 2008 – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying they “cling to guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who aren’t like them.”
February 2009 – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the plan in February 2011.
April 2009 – When speaking at Georgetown University, Obama orders that a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name be covered when he is making his speech.
May 2009 – Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House.
April 2009 – In a deliberate act of disrespect, Obama nominated three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican; of course, the pro-life Vatican rejected all three.
October 19, 2010 – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase about “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence – an omission he has made on no less than seven occasions.
November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law.
January 2011 – After a federal law was passed to transfer a WWI Memorial in the Mojave Desert to private ownership, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the cross in the memorial could continue to stand, but the Obama administration refused to allow the land to be transferred as required by law, and refused to allow the cross to be re-erected as ordered by the Court.
February 2011 – Although he filled posts in the State Department, for more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure from the public and from Congress.
April 2011 – For the first time in American history, Obama urges passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring protections for religious groups, forcing religious organizations to hire according to federal mandates without regard to the dictates of their own faith, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring.
August 2011 – The Obama administration releases its new health care rules that override religious conscience protections for medical workers in the areas of abortion and contraception.
November 2011 – Obama opposes inclusion of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous D-Day Prayer in the WWII Memorial.
November 2011 – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech.
December 2011 – The Obama administration denigrates other countries’ religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights.
January 2012 – The Obama administration argues that the First Amendment provides no protection for churches and synagogues in hiring their pastors and rabbis.
February 2012 – The Obama administration forgives student loans in exchange for public service, but announces it will no longer forgive student loans if the public service is related to religion.
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=106938
Flying the Flag at Half Staff …mourning for my country.
We Are Almost Out Of Time!!!
What’s your perspective on Romans 13 and the theses in “Indivisible?”
I finished writing a sermon 2 days ago (I am a layperson) and was worried the content might be too much for the congregation to handle. Your message gives me the confidence I needed to go forward. It reflects much of what I had written (even some of the same language!). Divine, indeed! God bless you as you continue your tremendously important work.
James Robison
I’ve known you since I was a freshmen in junior high school, I’m now 57 years old. We go back quite a ways.
Please tell me your not a part of [Christian Dominionism].
Are you ? or not ?
No answer, or lack of a reply would tell me, yes, you are.
Karla
Karla,
No, of course not. I would never promote or participate in such an oppressive, totalitarian, and demonic scheme.
James
Note from the editor: The e-book on Christian Dominionism that was included with the question was deleted. It’s overly dramatic, somewhat absurd, and painfully long. Anyone wishing to research the subject merely needs to Google it. Also, the assumption of admission based on a lack of reply is not a good technique for future comments. Blackmail will not routinely be honored.
James
I loved this article! It truly reveals your passion and desire for America. I can not tell you how much this passion that we share creates such a burning in my heart to do all I can do with God’s help to bring America back to its original foundation; the solid rock; the solid word of God! I never in my life, have had such a stronger conviction to move and take action for this cause. Thank you and Jay Richards for writing “Indivisible”. It is awesome! Very well laid out and simplified for the common men and women to understand the solutions to these issues. My prayers are with you! I have been spreading the word in all congregations and cities that I have visited regarding your book. If there is anything else that I can do, please let me know.
Also, I enjoyed speaking with you, Betty, Jay, and his wife in Wichita Falls at Mardels. You all are so sincere and clearly God has chosen you for a mighty purpose. He also is using me in such a smaller way, but it is very humbling. The tools He is using to awaken so many is quite amazing. If you have the time, you will understand how He is using me by viewing a video I put together on the book I published. The video is titled “The True Pioneers of America / a glimpse of the book “The “Would-Be” Pioneers”. It is on YouTube.
May God bless you all and may God bless America,
Rosanne