America is still far, far from a perfect nation. But following the election, which found many of the woke ideologies and those who support it cast aside for the more conservative views once again, my heart was grateful. Not so naive as to think that there’s still not scoundrels in the government, but I do believe that there were many praying to God for mercy and help and He provided it. When President Trump had that near miss on his life, I felt then that God was merciful to us as a Nation and that President Trump became a humbler man; understanding the magnitude of God’s providence and control. And then this morning as I read Ezekiel 36, I felt as if God said to me, “I didn’t do this for you Shari, or for America, I did it so the world would know once again Who’s in control, and Who should get the glory.”
How could He have done it for us? Look how bad things got before even a few people stood up against an absolute evil in every community.
Ezekiel 36:32-38 KJV
Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. [33] Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. [34] And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. [35] And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. [36] Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. [37] Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. [38] As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Commentary says that this chapter is a prophecy concerning the desolations of the land of Israel, and the causes of them; of the return of the people to it, and the fruitfulness of it; and of spiritual blessings bestowed upon them in the end times. And first, for the comfort of the people of Israel, it is observed that their enemies will suffer the vengeance of God’s wrath, particularly the Edomites, Ezekiel 36:1, that the land of Israel should again become fruitful, its cities rebuilt, men and beasts be multiplied upon it, and be no more liable to destruction, nor bear any more the reproach of the Heathen, Ezekiel 36:8, the causes of its desolation and destruction, the sins of its inhabitants, especially bloodshed, idolatry, and profanation of the name of God, Ezekiel 36:16, nevertheless the Lord promises to have mercy on them, and return them to their own land, not for their sakes, but for his own name’s sake, Ezekiel 36:21, then follow promises of spiritual blessings to them: as purification from all sin by the blood of Christ.
The Repentance
America is not the chosen nation. We’re a nation of chosen people (some of them, those that are saved). But God won’t stand by and allow the disgusting wickedness that has gone on in the Whitehouse with the mockery of all things Holy. Promoting lifestyles and behaviors that go against the Word of God, the murder, mutilation and molestation of children with a presidential seal. Nor will He take kindly to those in America who prayed for deliverance to allow this nonsense to continue. There has got to be an earnest repentance, beginning with the Church.
I have struggled being involved in politics. It’s not a pretty world on any side. But when I read Ezekiel’s words, “be ashamed and confounded for your own ways“ I felt the conviction in my own heart for having been more silent than I should have been.
The Rebuilding
There will come a day when God will rebuild and restore Israel. As for rebuilding America, it has nothing to do with the physical realm and everything to do with the Spiritual. For there to be any hope it has to be on a personal level. If we want to see our family and friends rescued from the evil of this world, we have to get them to the foot of the cross. We have to rebuild families, take control of our children and stop allowing the world’s influence to be the greater. This rebuilding will be with words, not bricks. The Word of God must be spoken over our families with time spent on our knees crying out to God to help us get them saved and under the blood of Jesus. That’s the only hope for Israel, God’s chosen. And it’s the only hope for us.
The Rescue
In verse 36, Ezekiel prophesied that God would let the heathen know that He had rescued Israel from themselves.
Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
Call me crazy, but I fully believe that God rescued us with purpose. I had personally lost hope in the cause of America. Every time I witnessed someone mock the ways of God my heart felt as if it were being ripped from my chest. As I watched modern churches compromise themselves to cater to a fickle world that wouldn’t stand for anything, I wanted to storm the doors of their churches and turn over the tables as Christ did in the temple when they made His church a den of thieves. Even locally our people have been forced from their church buildings by the hierarchy of a denomination demanding that they accept a sinful lifestyle in the name of Jesus. It breaks my heart, but I’m glad there were a few who would stand up on the Lord’s behalf.
It is not the denomination over the door of a church that will get you into Heaven, it’s the contents of the heart. God alone will judge those church leaders. But all of us can do better at defending what Christ died for. He is worthy!