July 4 The Day of the Lord

Ezekiel 30:1-3 The word of the Lord came to me: 2  "Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: "Wail, 'Alas for the day!' 3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.'"

 THE Prophet Ezekiel devotes Chapters 29-32 to God's Word against Egypt and its Pharaoh. This Scripture is a sharp summary of God's warnings and intentions to destroy the country and its leader due to their great sins throughout the many centuries prior. The phrase "day of the Lord" points to God coming in definitive judgment from which Egypt and its Pharaoh will not escape.

    On this July 4 with complete respect, admiration and love in my heat for America, I pray we, the citizens of the United States - and I pray for those of you living in other countries - go to our knees to repent. We must realize that unless our nation's heart turns to God, we will become an Egypt - a country of great sin that worships its own power and authority. Perhaps we already are an "Egypt" in God's sight. After all, our sins are certainly hateful before God's holy rule.

    For example, in the 24 hours prior to you reading this, 3,000 babies have died out of a "mother's" womb in the name of "choice" and "rights". Our country has legally declared the great sin of homosexuality as a "right". In an alarming 40-year trend, we have come to accept the sin of unmarried heterosexuals living as husband and wife to be a normal relationship. Increasingly we permit heinous words and visual images over our televisions and multimedia devices by naming it "free speech". We watch as our church pews grow empty while our prison cells overflow.

    The reason for our sins is clear. We have looked upon God and called him "irrelevant, unnecessary and only for the weak". We make up "scientific" evidence to deny our Creator. Thus, we deny any responsibility with the absolute phrase, "no absolutes". Our children's education is based on the lies are formed around these evils. Sadly we live as declared in Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

    My friends, in whatever nation you live, pray for your country and Jesus' church within your borders. Remember, there is another "day of the Lord" coming as Paul declared in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-10 "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."

    Heed Scripture's warnings. Hear Scripture's promises. Believe these true words. Pray that you, your nation and your church will truly be "children of the light" who "belong to the day".

Prayer: Lord God, turn our nation's hearts to you. We pray in Jesus' name and the Spirit's power, amen.