“And in that day did the LORD God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, and slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the LORD God of hosts” (Isaiah 22:12-13). When Isaiah delivered this prophecy, Judah was in a desperate situation. Assyria was destroying the northern kingdom. The land of Judah was filled with idolatry and moral filthiness. In that dire time, God graciously but forcefully called upon His people to mourn and repent and seek His face, but instead they partied and proclaimed that there was no hope for help or revival. This is exactly what is happening in America and other Western nations today. Politically, morally, and economically, the situation is dire, but instead of calling for repentance and earnest prayer as per 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4, most Bible-believing churches are content with their lukewarm spirituality, their infantile discipleship, their shallow biblicism, their soft preaching, and their entertainment agenda. They blame the moral reprobates, the atheists, and the liberal politicians for the nation’s problems, but it is more likely that the root of the problem lies at their own doorsteps. America doesn’t fear God because 99% of the churches don’t preach the fear of God.
(Friday Church News Notes, June 24, 2022, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)