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Introduction In our last issue, we looked at how our dreams crumble and why that happens. We become “disillusioned” because we are living in an “illusion” to begin with. God, in His love and mercy for us, does not leave us in our illusions. We must face reality, truth, which is Christ Jesus. God shakes all things until only those things of His Kingdom remain, everything else crumbles. The shaking of God purifies us, our motives, and our goals. It is a form of judgment against all things that are not of Him. We saw in our last issue that there are three things that are involved in our building of dreams that will crumble when shaken, producing despair and disillusionment in us. False, faulty, incorrect foundations; False, faulty, incorrect premises; False, faulty, incorrect expectations. We considered these primarily from an individual viewpoint; however, they are also applicable in a corporate sense also. As a Nation We have here in America what is called “The American Dream”. While I think it used to mean “freedom”, it has come to mean success, wealth, possessions, position and power. It has become a dream of pampered privilege. It has invaded the institutional church and we have exported it all over the world. God in His love and mercy cannot let that continue. The shaking has come and along with it the judgment. The modern version of the American Dream is on the verge of collapse. We are operating under a false premise, which leads us to false expectations as a nation. Repeatedly you hear people profess that we are a “Christian” nation. This is simply not true. There is no such thing as a “Christian” nation. The only Christian nation that exists is the Kingdom of God. While it is true that America was founded on some Judeo-Christian principles, that does not make us a “Christian” nation any more than other nations. The Kingdom of God is a theocracy; the United States is a democracy. These are polar opposite forms of government. In God's government there is no voting about what should be done—the popular opinion doesn't matter, only the will of God. To see what God thinks of this we need go no further than the children of Israel in the wilderness. There were several popular “votes” to return to Egypt; however, God would chastise them and move them on toward the Promised Land. We need to stop thinking about how we voted and what we want and begin thinking about God's plan and purpose. If we are truly living in the days preceding the close of this age; we should understand that the nations of the earth have prophetic importance to God's agenda. Nations, peoples, and powers are all subject to realignment and change according to the Lord's strategy. This would include bringing forth the “Beast Kingdom” and the “Antichrist” as mentioned in Revelation in order to bring all things to a conclusion. The people of God should expect this—we should even be praying for this. Where do our loyalties lie? To the Kingdom of God or to the worldly nation in which we reside? Crumbling dreams are devastating but we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken and our eyes are set on a city whose builder and maker is God. Our hope is in the Lord and in Him do we trust. We don't need to prop up anything that is from the heart of man. We only need to rest in our God. Response Both individually and corporately there are four ways that we typically respond to crumbling dreams. None of the four are good responses. Wildness—intemperance—casting off restraints; Withdrawal—introversion; Fatalism—resignation—passivity—whatever will be, will be; Religious answer—blame God—and those who belong to Him. We can readily see how these effect the individual, but how about the nation? If our national dream crumbles, what will be the result. How will these four areas manifest themselves? First a wild spirit comes upon the people of the nation. Immorality in every form becomes popular. Legislation and laws that restrain become looser and looser allowing more and more people to cast off restraint without suffering legal consequences. The nation as a whole becomes fully self-centered, concerned primarily with internal problems. Relationship with the rest of the world becomes secondary and, eventually, largely ignored. A passivity sets in concerning the future and a longing comes about for a 'golden age' of the past that no longer seems attainable. There is also the blame question. Who takes the fall for the crumbling dreams? A nation will shift the blame to God or the people of God. In America we can look for a hardening of attitudes of the general public against those who truly desire to walk in the way of Jesus. We can already see the beginning of this. It will only get worse. Results of Judgment Those who profess America as a “Christian” nation can't believe that God would bring any form of judgment. However, they simply do not know the Scriptures. Ezekiel 14:13-21 NASB (13) "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, (14) even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves," declares the Lord GOD. (15) "If I were to cause wild beasts to pass through the land and they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts, (16) though these three men were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate. (17) "Or if I should bring a sword on that country and say, 'Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,' (18) even though these three men were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be delivered. (19) "Or if I should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it, (20) even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." (21) For thus says the Lord GOD, "How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! These Scriptures make it clear that even if the most righteous live in a country that sins against the Lord, their righteousness would not save the country from judgment. They would only save themselves. America can't hide behind its Judeo-Christian roots and avoid God's judgment. He will deliver His people who are founded on the Kingdom but will judge those who are not. These Scriptures also make it clear that the Lord uses four forms of judgment against a nation. the economy—v. 13, “destroy its supply of bread” the ecology—v. 15, “ cause wild beasts to pass through the land” war—v. 17, “bring a sword on that country” disease—v. 19, “send a plague against that country” The United States is beginning to experience all four of these judgments in a “mild” form. God, in His mercy, is giving His people an opportunity to prepare themselves and to speak “as those with understanding of the times and seasons” to others. The circumstances will quickly progress toward the fulfillment of these four judgments. These are not times of fear and worry for those who belong to God. These are times to see the power and salvation of our God. Romans 8:28 NASB (28) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:18-23 NASB (18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (19) For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (23) And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:27 NASB (27) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. For more on this
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© 2003-2008 by Art Nelson and Lifestream
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