Being a Christian, and living in a Nation that is not God-honoring, I can learn from Daniel's example in Daniel chapter 6. When the high officials of the kingdom Daniel served in decreed that no man should petition to any god other than to King Darius or else they would be killed, Daniel went to his house, got down on his knees and prayed. Giving thanks to God as he had always done. He didn't run around shouting his defiance or vengeance. He didn't cry out in anger. He simply prayed. Yes, his disobedience to the king's decree caused him to come face-to-face with death. But the God whom Daniel continually served, decreed life and not death, and rescued him.
The truth is, I cannot expect America to become God-honoring, although I pray our government will. I cannot even 'hope' that this nation will turn from its evil ways. I can't expect that I won't be attacked in some way for my faith in Jesus Christ. But I can remain faithful to the Lord my God who has been perfectly faithful to me.
My hope is not in America becoming a Christian nation that honors God, like it used be in the beginning. My hope is in an eternal perfect Kingdom that is coming;m aybe not today; maybe not in my lifetime. But, it IS coming, because the God of the Bible has declared it!
Matthew 24:4-14 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 1and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."(End of Dori's article)
The "end" is the return of the Lord to reign on earth for one thousand years to conquer all evil and rebellion once and for all, and to restore all things created that God once called "good." Hallejujah!
