One thing all the political rantings in the presidential race have made clear is that America is in deep trouble. The candidates make rash statements and promises and the real problem is that we the people are foolish enough to believe them and to think that this candidate or that one will save America from its decline. I hate to be so blunt, but the stupidity of the American people to buy into the words and promises of so many of these candidates is appalling. I can't even begin to understand it.
It's true I shouldn't be surprised, considering the outcome of past elections. Politicians promise to fix this and make that better and the people blindly believe that it will somehow be so if they just vote for and elect the man or woman who promises them the most. And then there are those who promise to use America's might to make things right in the rest of the world and fail to consider the long-term effects and the many problems we have right here at home. And, in regard to the national debt and Constitutional rights, it doesn't seem to matter which political party is in control because both continue to spend more than the government takes in -- it would likely be political suicide to hold the line and cut government spending because everyone seems to love "free money" -- and both are willing to violate the limits placed on the federal government in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
I've been a supporter of the candidate who is promising the least, so to speak -- less government spending and bringing to Congress a balanced budget even though that means the end of many government programs and subsidies as well as cutting out wasteful spending in the military; limiting government agencies to actions allowed in the Constitution and not prohibited in the Bill of Rights, including an end to the warrant-less invasions on Americans' privacy through domestic spying; doing away with the IRS and the current tax code in favor of a flat tax; reducing the power of the Federal Reserve and making it accountable to the American people. He essentially wants to minimize federal government to Constitutionally-assigned duties and get it out of the lives of we the people. But, I've noticed that, in spite of the support he's received from young people across the nation, his own party and the media are giving the Kentucky senator little attention. I guess we'll see whether his supporters can bring these issues back to the forefront in the upcoming caucuses and primaries.
But, back to my point about the foolishness of the American people when it comes to choosing their leaders. I think of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, son of David, who assumed the throne of Israel following the death of Solomon. Because of Solomon's unfaithfulness to the LORD God in his latter years, God determined to divide the kingdom and give a part of it to Solomon's servant, Jeroboam. After Solomon's death when Rehoboam took the throne, the people of Israel from the northern tribes came to him and promised their allegiance if he would just lighten their heavy tax burden. Rehoboam looked to his advisers for counsel and the older ones urged him to be a servant of the people and lighten the tax burden to keep their allegiance. But Rehoboam rejected their advice and asked counsel of a newer and younger group of advisers. They suggested he answer the northern tribes of Israel in words of strength and increase their burden.
According to 1 Kings 12:14, Rehoboam "spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!'"
In verse 15, it explains: "So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."
My point is that God, who "removes kings and raises up kings" (Dan. 2:21), also raises up kings and rulers for judgment upon peoples and nations who have disobeyed and rebelled against Him and His Word. And it is my belief this has been and is already taking place in America because of the murder of millions and millions of unborn children. Instead of heeding wise counsel, our people are heeding foolish counsel leading our nation toward ruin. The times of freedom, peace and prosperity we have enjoyed are likely coming to an end; and, sad to say, the times our children and grandchildren will see are frightening.
Would God judge America for turning away from Him, rejecting the truths of the Bible, and promoting and protecting the killing of millions of children yet in their mothers' wombs? My opinion really doesn't matter. What does matter is what God says in His Word.
In Exodus 20, as a part of His 10 Commandments, God said, "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments" (v. 5-6). In Exodus 34, when the LORD appeared to Moses, He proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation" (v. 6-7).
God not only says He is merciful and forgiving to those who honor and respect Him and heed His commandments; He says He visits and punishes the sins of fathers upon their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to the third and fourth generation, of those who hate Him and disobey His commandments. Add to this the words of Romans 1:18ff. -- go read it for yourself -- and the beginning of the judgment of God upon the people of our nation is evident. And, if we do not repent, the judgment will only become more evident and severe. America could end up like Nineveh, Babylon or Sodom and Gomorrah.
So, what will happen in the upcoming campaign season and elections? I don't claim to know the election results before they are announced in November. I hope and pray the American people will wise up, repent, pray for mercy and vote for candidates who will seek to end the evils being protected and promoted by our current rulers. But I expect -- yes, almost predict -- that America and the majority of its voters will heed foolish counsel and elect leaders who will promise us prosperity and greatness while taking us down the road of judgment and ruin.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved
Editorial on 01/27/2016