Ever since I was in high school, I have been a person who pays attention to the news. At first it was reading the daily newspaper, though I spent more time in the sports section, than any other portion. I’d read the front page, check the weather, and then it would be off to check on my favorite teams and players. Today, I only occasionally read a newspaper, but I follow news through the TV networks, and various websites. Taken as a whole, the news is not good. More and more people are having to carefully monitor their intake of news because too much can be overwhelming, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
As someone who seeks to be spiritually discerning, I see an abundance of signs that godlessness is raging out of control in many different parts of the world, including North America.
In Isaiah 19, the prophet addressed a nation that had turned away from God and turned towards godlessness. The nation was Egypt. There was a spirit that invaded the people, politics, and power structures of the nation.
GODLESSNESS LEADS TO LAWLESSNESS
In verse 14, Isaiah identifies the ‘spirit’:
New King James Version “a perverse spirit”
New International Version “spirit of dizziness”
New Living Translation “spirit of foolishness”
English Standard Version “spirit of confusion”
New American Standard “spirit of distortion”
There is a point where individual sin [godlessness] is so widespread it becomes a national sin, or at nation at sin. Personally, I believe we are seeing this godless spirit at work in the world today, in nations, such as, the United States, Canada, China, and Russia. Nations, and the people who inhabit them, would be wise to understand history clearly demonstrates that godlessness never ends well. People have the freedom to reject and rebel against God and the things of God, but in doing so they will reap destruction and death. There are no exceptions!
Romans 1:18-19 (New International Version) “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”
When people don’t feel shame for doing shameful things, they are godless.
Psalm 9:17 (New Living Translation) “The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.”
Psalm 28:5 (New International Version) “Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.”
Psalm 52:7 (New Living Translation) “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (New International Version) “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE
One of the things I love about Isaiah 19 is, also, in this chapter, Isaiah prophesies that Egypt will return to the Lord, see verses 18-22. In the time of Jesus, over one million Jews lived in Egypt, and for a 600-year period there was a “strong, vital church” (David Guzik). Until the end comes, there is always hope.
Psalm 53:2 (New International Version) “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”
In Psalm 11 there is a question that may be your question today, considering all the godlessness, wickedness, and lawlessness our world:
“…if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
If you count yourself among the righteousness, because of the grace of God upon your life, I offer two answers to this question: “What can the righteous do?”
One, be reminded today that God is on His throne – Psalm 11:4. This is not a time to surrender to fear, anxious thoughts, and panic. This is a time for faith and faithfulness.
Second, pray. Psalm 2:8 (English Standard Version) “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Here are several ways you can pray for the nations:
· Light overcoming darkness
· Truth overtaking lies
· Spirit of God destroying the perverse spirit at work in the world
· Kingdom of God coming to earth
· Opening of hearts/eyes/ears to spiritual truth
In the four nations I mentioned above, the Church of Jesus has a significant presence. Pray for churches to become more and more passionate about the mission and ministry of Jesus, to be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit, and remain united.
I will conclude by circling back to Psalm 53:2 – God is looking down from heaven for those who will seek after Him. Keep Him first in everything you do and seek Him on behalf of our nation and the nations of the world. Godlessness never ends well, yet until the end comes there is always hope that people and nations will repent and return to God. That is what I am praying for today!
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