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Our country is like a
large ship fighting
through stormy waters
in foggy weather.
Spiritually and
morally, we’ve lost
our sense of
direction.
Sexual sins, greed,
pride, indulgence,
slothfulness,
ungratefulness, and
irreverence
characterize our
nation. Prayer
and Bible reading are
no longer allowed in
schools, and it’s
become legal to kill
unborn babies.
We are on our way to
becoming a pagan
nation where ungodly
ideas and morals are
not only accepted but
celebrated. Our
country is on a
collision course with
disaster.
Amidst the darkness of
our age, the church is
called to be like a
lighthouse. In
foggy weather or on
dark nights,
lighthouses warn ships
of danger and help
guide them safely
through treacherous
waters. Jesus said:
"You are the light of
the world. A
city set on a hill
cannot be hidden; nor
does anyone light a
lamp and put it under
a basket, but on the
lamp stand, and it
gives light to all who
are in the house.
Let your light shine
before men in such a
way that they may see
your good works, and
glorify your Father
who is in heaven"
(Matt. 5:14-16).
Because you and I have
the light of God’s
Holy Spirit within us,
we have a
responsibility.
We are to send out a
beam of truth into the
circle of our family,
friends, coworkers,
and neighbors.
Scattered across our
land are literally
hundreds of thousands
of churches.
Every week, millions
of people attend
services. So why
is our nation, morally
speaking, in a fog?
Why are we almost sunk
by the waves of
philosophies and false
religions?
Pastors
In the early part of
last century, liberal
theology began to
penetrate the churches
and seminaries of
America. Church
authorities began to
doubt the truthfulness
of Scripture.
They asserted that
only part of the Bible
was inspired by God,
but that it contained
some errors.
They also taught that
it was outdated.
As a result, sermons
grew weaker and less
convicting.
Pastors compromised
the truth to keep from
offending those with
wealth or position in
the community.
Children raised to
doubt the Bible
learned not to trust
the Lord. Later,
as adults, they had no
place in their lives
for God. Our
generation is reaping
the awful harvest of
years and years of
liberalism. Even
today, many pastors
fail to send a clear
message about the
holiness, judgment,
and power of our
awesome God.
The Individual
Believer
A malfunctioning
lighthouse can mean
danger and destruction
for ships seeking safe
harbor. What
causes a lighthouse
beam to grow dim or go
out completely?
If the glass is dirty,
the light will be
muted. If there
is no power, there can
be no illumination.
Why is the church not
operating as the
lighthouse it should
be? Sin has
lessened our ability
to shine for God.
We’ve cut off the
power of the Holy
Spirit, who desires to
work through us.
In cowardice, we have
compromised our
convictions in order
to please the world.
Believers have been
afraid to offend the
ungodly by speaking
truth; instead, we end
up offending almighty
God through our
disobedience.
Ultimately, the
sovereign Lord holds
the destiny of this
nation in His hands.
But He has graciously
chosen to involve you
and me through our
thinking, conduct, and
prayers. If we
want to see America
change for the better,
that change must begin
with us. When
many believers allow
God to work through
them, the radiance of
the church will grow
stronger. Its
beam of light will
penetrate the darkness
and provide the
direction that our
nation so desperately
needs.
Peter wrote, “It is
time for judgment to
begin with the
household of God; and
if it begins with us
first, what will the
outcome be for those
who do not obey the
gospel of God?”
(1 Peter 4:17).
The church must begin
by repenting—turning
from the direction we
are headed. I
challenge you to ask
yourself, Am I in the
center of God’s will
for my life? Am
I in some way
contributing to the
sin in our nation?
Is there something
about my life that God
would like to change?
How does my parenting
style need to adjust
so that my children
will have the
foundation to be
godly,
Bible-believing,
devoted, obedient
Christians?
If the church does not
wake up and begin to
send a clear message
of accountability,
forgiveness, and
genuine hope, our
nation is headed for
shipwreck. Do
your part to help
restore the church in
America to be the
lighthouse God
intended.
By Charles F. Stanley
http://www.intouch.org
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