Life Talk Devotion 08/12/2024
Well, we are in the middle of another election year media blitz. The political candidates are blazing with both advertising barrels overwhelming the weary eyes and ears of the American public. The messages resound with their one-sided sound bites, selective video clips and now even some AI contrivances mixed in. The idea is to repeat the narrative often enough to create an “illusion of truth” whether factual or not.
As in the 2016 and 2020 elections, the campaign slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) is again the rallying cry for many across the nation both politically and socially and also a point of contentious division for others. Both sides appear to have divergent and polarizing views on what made and what will make America great again.
MAGA, in fact, implies that America was once great and now has lost its strength, sense of the original vision and grand purpose cast by the Founding Fathers. History has shown that there has not been another nation like the United States where individual freedom, opportunity, and the ideals of life and liberty have been upheld by precept and the rule of law. No doubt, the United States has not been perfect in practice of those ideals throughout our history but the vision of staying true to those principles seems to always have self-corrected in due course. However, today there seems to be a growing dedication to cast aside those ideals within the American political and institutional national frameworks while ardently moving us to a new social paradigm. Much of which is now evidenced on the very streets of our cities.
There is little doubt that America is in decline suffering from drain of wars, excessive national debt, social turbulence and most of all lost virtue. Given the constant stream of unsettling news and events in these arenas, it is no wonder confidence in the core institutions that we have depended on for stability is understandably shaken. Popular opinion points the finger at our politicians for the root cause of our nation’s decline and weakened global influence. But that very idea in itself demonstrates our dependence and trust has mistakenly migrated to seeking human solutions for the ills of the nation.
MAGA also implies that America ‘can be‘ great again. Many assumptions about the achievement of greatness are attributed to American ingenuity, financial prowess, and blood, sweat and tears which is only partially true. Americans historically have been a very industrious people with a willingness to sacrifice to leave a legacy of betterment for future generations. However, past generations in our country also understood that faith in the God of the Bible who bestows all blessings was part of the enduring success equation which built this nation. It was a faith that was committed to a truth that is immutable and transcends our own ability to rationalize the principles of right and wrong. Over the last 100 plus years we as a nation have done everything to obscure, legislate and minimize the Biblical principles out of our society and daily life. The pulpits and churches in America have been equally complicit bending to ungodly social norms and weakly challenging those who would redefine truth.
So, can America be great again? Possibly, but not in its current spiritual condition. Without God and His truth as the foundation of life, our efforts to improve our national well-being will only continue to be frustrated and lead to further decline as a nation and people. Many social mandates and abhorrent legislative agendas being pursued in our nation are a ‘fist shake’ in the face of God and have been for decades. The God of Heaven will not bend to the will of man or sway to the whims of our culture’s self-affirming form of narcissistic truth. Until the premise that God is sovereign and His precepts cannot be toyed with are acquiesced to by our leaders (spiritual and political) and the people, America will continue on its current downward path.
Many prognosticators believe America is already under severe judgement from God with little hope of surviving an ultimate demise. Reverend Franklin Graham is quoted recently saying “Christian faith in America has ‘never’ been at a lower point“. But with God, His mercy is new every morning. Like the message from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah to the Israelites, the call to the American people is to remember the former blessings God has bestowed upon our nation and turn back to Him.
Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’ Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV)
Depending on and placing our hope in any political leader to restore this once great nation is an “illusion of truth” which God cannot bless. True blessings and lasting hope for any person, society or nation are only found through the God of the Bible and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The call of God for those who follow Christ is to stand as uncommon and resolute people who unashamedly proclaim the truth of His Word calling people to repentance and standing for righteousness. The goal of every Christian should be to make the Name of the Lord God great among the nations and peoples.
If you desire to know how to have a relationship by faith with Jesus Christ – Check out “Finding Faith in Jesus Christ”.
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