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PRELUDE
Do you remember this quote of Charles Dickens? I surely do as the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" was required reading for me in high school.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
In this novel, Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal level and on a societal level.
So, how does the plot of this book relate to today's America? A simple thought, for those of us who follow Scripture's prophecy as it relates to today's America. It has or it will surely happen, as provided by divine dictates. This is the spiritual paradox of good and evil.
In a reversal of Dickens famous cliché, the characteristics of evil versus good are very easy to behold. Simply read your local newspaper, tune into your television news, surf the Internet. Or you could talk it over with your next door neighbor to gain a comparison between the "Worst" and the "Best" of times.
And sad to say for some, simply listening to their church pastor tends to only tickle one's ears.
So, now on with it, this eye-opening vision of our America.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior," (I Timothy 2:1-3)
I had just finished the long-awaited ending of my long Bible college dissertation entitled "The Now And Then of Religion." I was in a total meltdown, as far as my sanity was concerned, when this vision happened to easily overtake my otherwise normal educational wits.
I found myself walking down a desolate wilderness road, when I suddenly approached a most unusual fork in the road. The right fork was painted bright red, while the left fork was painted a dull blue.
Associated with the two roads were two directional signs displaying curious messages. The right sign, trimmed in a bright red, stated "This Way to the Best of Times." The blue sign, trimmed in a dull blue proclaimed "This Way To the Worst of Times". Both signs had corresponding pointing arrows.
It was my decision. Did I want to walk down the "The Worst Of Times" road or did I want to proceed on into the "Best Of Times" road?
Before I could decide or choose my route, out of nowhere came this strange character. A rather dignified blond haired gentleman, dressed in a dark blue business suit, wearing a white shirt and big red tie. What was so unusual for his fashion, was the crude homemade sign he was carrying. Printed on the sign was a slogan reading "Make America Great Again."
Not saying a word at first, he simply pointed to the signs in jest, giving out a big smile. Then he spoke up.
"You have come to the right place, my friend. You and I will be taking two adventurous trips, one looking at the way that could be labeled "The Best of Times" and the other looking at how it is now labeled "The Worst of Times." You will be gaining firsthand knowledge of what I go through every day and truth you can ponder and pass on.
Grabbing hold of my hand away we went down the blue road marked "The Worst of Times. Why he first picked this road, I haven't a clue. Since he was so optimistically confident, I decided to go along with him,
It didn't take us very long moving down the blue road to find its meaning. There it was, a city in total bewilderment, a scene of mass confusion.
The streets were in total disarray, full of a disorderly sign-waving. rioting multitude. Street-corner preachers were exhibiting rash hearsay talk, in hopes of gaining untruthful exposure. The newspaper stands were full of fake news headings. The store front television broadcasts were appealing to the voting public, to uphold the advertised political untruths. Law and order was nowhere to be found, for fear of being entangled in the enmeshed corrupt political public hearings, discrediting our country's elected officials. Standing there on the court house steps was a lone stranger, holding up an information banner, yelling out in total desperation appealing the unlawful unconstitutional decisions of the court.
There was also an obvious break-down of religion. On every corner were churches, displayin poor maintenance, with crumbling bulletin boards displaying bits and pieces of Scripture verses.
"What has happened here? Is this truly our Country, The "Land of the Free, The Home of the Brave? And what has happened to our long-standing motto "In God We Trust?" I silently asked myself.
Apparently reading my mind, my companion gave answer. "It all started, my friend, when God was taken out of it all. Out of the public square, out of our educational facilities, out of our Constitutional dictates, out of the courts, out of our privacy, and above all, taken out of our religious beliefs."
"How could this have happened, to a free society such as our America? Especially in our families, And particularly in our churches, the houses of God?" I demanded.
"It's a matter of simple deduction, my friend. It's all found in Scripture, referred to as the difficulties of the Last Days" (II Timothy 3:1) it's a time of apostasy. As the Lord's return draws near, these characteristics will intensify," he answered. (I Timothy 4:1-5)
"The description pointed out in (II Timothy 3:2-9, 13) is of mass corruption, of a breakdown of law and tradition. People will no longer be content to hear the sound teaching of the gospel, but will be compelled to turn to many different teachers of untruth." he went on. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
"Okay, I get it, kind sir. Can we just go now? Can we please go back to where it all started and venture down that road to the Best of Times, I begged mournfully.
"Yes, my good friend. Just hang on to my hand and close your eyes. For we will be there in a blink, And I feel you'll be surprised," he gracefully responded to my pleas.
Giving this city one last look, my companion spoke a parting word, "It hurts too much to cry."
Then as if by a divine miracle, we were walking down the red road. What a difference, as we arrived in the city! It was the exact opposite of the other city. The police, on every corner, were helping with the traffic. The streets were filled by law-abiding citizens, singing and praying as they moved around. Church workers, standing on the street corners, were passing out Bibles. The newspaper stands were filled with good news headings. The store front televisions were broadcasting "G" rated human interest narratives, interrupted occasionally by conscientious minded prospective politicians asking for support.
As for the church houses, they all seemed to give out a divine glow, with crowds of people trying to get into the ongoing services.
And to top it all off, the city was having a big "Make America Great Again rally. There must have been thousands waiting in line just to get in the big coliseum. So that's where my newly-found friend's sign came from, I know I had seen it before.
Looking around, I couldn't help but note a big smile on my companion's face. "What has happened to made this difference?" I asked.
His answer was so simple. "It is "God and Country" in that order, coupled by the results of an overwhelming God-controlled election," (Daniel 2:21) he proudly exclaimed, dropping back in the shadows and gradually fading out of sight. (Hebrews 13:2)
As he faded away from the city, he gave his last parting word, "Thank You God, for bringing us back."
"Wow, it was so simple! As a Bible college Political Science professor, why didn't I think of that? Wait, where did you go, my friend? I didn't get a chance to thank you."
End of vision.
(Please click on the various highlighted Scripture references, as you read)
EPILOGUE
I trust you enjoyed this fictional story. This complete reversal of the Dickens quote demonstrates the absurdity and contradiction of America's evil versus America's good.
We here in America seem to be living as if there is no tomorrow, as if there is shows denial of the very basics of our civilities.
I realize, however, as Christians we are to be law-abiding citizens. (I Peter 2:13-17) If the law of one's government violates the revealed will of God, then of course, we are to obey God, though we may have to suffer the penalties of that government's laws. (Romans 13:1-7) (Titus 3:1-2)
The root of this matter, however, isn't one particular political faction over another, although some are being used by the evil one in an all-out spiritual war to destroy America. We are in an unseen spiritual war of many battles. Our enemies are the demonic hosts of Satan, always assembled for mortal combat. (Ephesians 6:12)
Within this war are many false teachers. (II Peter 2:1-3) And oh yes, politicians are certainly not immune from being recruited on evil's side.
For a good summary of this blog please read (I Peter 3:8-12). Amen!
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