Repentance -- No Other Hope -- 7/6/08

Sunday, July 6, 2008 (The seed of this sermon came from an article by Andrew Sweet, “We
Are NOT at a Crossroads”)

NO OTHER HOPE

Two days ago the United States of America celebrated its 232nd birthday. That, of course, was July 4. In reality, it would be accurate to say that many Americans gave little or no thought to the meaning of July 4. The day has come to be valued as a holiday. It makes little difference why it’s a holiday, just so it’s a holiday. That means no work and all leisure. So goes life in these United States of America.

But after all, July 4 is Independence Day. Once that meant independence from England and the freedom to be a sovereign nation. Now, whether we admit it or not, it means independence from one and all, including God Himself. On July 4 this country largely celebrates the fact that its citizens answer to no one. But enough of that, as I believe I spoke rather extensively on that subject three or four years ago.

Right now the spotlight is on our nation and its politics. We are just over four months away from a national election. The economy is uncertain, to say the least. We still have well over 100,000 soldiers in Iraq. And we are being bombarded by political propaganda. It would seem that times in this country are rather intense right now.

In times like these it is quite common to hear Christian leaders say that America is at a crossroads. The message may vary a great deal, but somewhere there is usually this idea: “If we don’t come back to God, He is going to judge America.” I have little political knowledge, certainly not enough to make accurate predictions about this country. What I want to say has nothing to do with predictions. Rather, it has to do with recent history. I don’t believe we are at a crossroads. We have passed the crossroads and we can’t even see it in the rearview mirror. We took the fork in the road marked “judgment,” and that’s where we are today. This country is under the judgment of God.

You ask, “Why do you say that?” There are many who view things like this: “If we don’t do something about abortion, God is going to judge this nation. If we don’t take a definite stand against homosexuality, God is going to judge the United States. If we don’t stem the tide of divorce, God is going to judge us.” I believe we are looking at it backwards. God has already judged us. Things like abortion and the rise of homosexuality are evidence of His judgment.

You want to know what biblical evidence I have for making such a statement. A passage from the Old Testament and another from the New. Turn with me to Proverbs 1. Let’s read Prov. 1:20-33…
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21. She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

You go back later and read this passage in light of the actions of this nation. God spoke, but America would not listen. So what is the end result? Verse 31, “Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of the their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Years ago I heard a godly man make this statement, “There is no judgment worse than abandonment.” You keep that in mind.

Now turn to the New Testament. Let’s read Rom. 1:16-32 (NIV)…
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith.”
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men 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. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Who can deny the fact that this is a very accurate account of what has happened in our country. It’s nothing new. Paul wrote about it in the past tense, and now we see it in the present tense. The key is in that little phrase that is repeated three times – “God gave them over.” The idea is this: “God abandoned them, allowing them to do what they want.” And as result, they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices (Pr. 1:31).

Freedom is not what most people think. Freedom does not have the same meaning in this country that it did 200 years ago. Freedom has come to be viewed as the right of every man to do what is right in his own eyes. And when a man finally attains it, whether he realizes it or not, he has become an absolute slave. What is worse than being a slave to one’s own desires? And as the downward spiral continues, the desires become more and more ungodly, as we see in this passage.

Again, this is nothing new. Paul and Barnabas were at Lystra on their first missionary journey. Through the power of God they healed a man who had been lame from birth. The people became so excited that they tried to offer sacrifices to these two men, as if they were gods. Paul and Barnabas immediately responded, as we read in Acts 14:14-18…
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Notice verse 16. In past times God allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. No nation is immune to that plight. During the time of the judges God spoke to the children of Israel with these words: "Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation" (Judges 10:13-14). Later, in the time of the kings, God spoke these words about backsliding Israel: “Ephraim [capital of Israel and a name used to designate the nation] is joined to idols; let him alone” (Hos. 4:17). We are not the first nation to be abandoned by God. There is no judgment worse than abandonment.

Those of us who are in Christ are citizens of heaven. We live in this world, but we are not of it. However, we cannot escape living in this world. That is God’s design. Remember the prayer of our Lord Jesus… (Jn. 17:15-18)
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

All of us find ourselves in the United States of America. With perhaps a couple of exceptions, that’s where we were born and that’s where we have stayed. Though we are “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13), this is where we are holding up until He comes. So what are we to do? Are we to totally ignore our surroundings? What do we do with Jesus’ words, “Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14)?

Please hear me. All of us are going to hear plenty about the state of our country and the pledges of candidates during the next four months. Please remember this one thing: There is only one hope for this nation and it isn’t Obama; nor is it McCain; nor is it a certain party’s control of Congress. The only hope for this nation is REPENTANCE. Even a return to morality will not turn this nation around. Repentance is the only hope.

But even if the citizens of this nation repent, that is no guarantee that God will spare this nation. The Lord God is under no obligation to turn back His judgment, even if we repent. If He continues to say, “The USA has chosen its gods; leave it alone,” who can blame Him? However, I do remember a city called Nineveh. It was a very wicked city, but God showed His mercy by sending them a prophet by the name of Jonah. When we read Jonah, we tend to focus on the life and actions of the prophet himself, but don’t forget about the miracle in the city. The miracle was in the fact that the king and citizens of Nineveh repented with fasting and sackcloth. They cried out to God, and He did indeed spare the city. Praise God that He is “a God full of compassion, and gracious, and longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Ps. 86:15).

And why do I say that repentance is the only hope for this nation? Why is there no hope in choosing better leaders and in rallying people to a better morality? Let me give you three reasons in ascending order. In other words, the most important reasons come last.

I. We Are Afflicted with the Itching Ear Syndrome

We are familiar with this phenomenon because of what we read in II Tim. 4:1-4…
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

People will pile up teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Who can deny that this is exactly what is happening all around us.

However, the application is wider than just the preaching of Christ. Five months ago a survey showed that only 35% of people in this country believed that energy exploration, drilling, and building new power plants was more important than energy conservation and the protection of the environment. This past week when the same question was asked, that number had increased to 47%. And what was it that made the difference? Higher gasoline prices. What some claimed to be noble principles were easily sacrificed when maintaining those principles hit the pocketbook.

Let me put it bluntly. We gripe about corrupt politicians, but corrupt politicians are just a reflection of a corrupt nation. The majority of the people in this country wants what will benefit “me.” It isn’t what is best for all the people; it’s what’s best for me and mine. And we see this in the professing church of America. Follow Jesus for what you can get out of Him. If He can fulfill His promise to give us happiness and prosperity, then follow Him. If not, then follow whatever perversion will get the job done. Before we condemn leaders, we need to take a look at this dominant attitude in our country.

Brothers and sisters, let us beware lest we develop that same kind of attitude, the attitude that focuses on what is good for me.

II. We Are Under the Judgment of God

This is what we have already talked about. I am certainly not saying it is wrong to try to deal with problems in this country, but our ultimate problem is with God Himself. He is the One who is judging America. Our problem is not political; it is spiritual. We read in Prov. 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

Go back through the Presidents of this country. Take your pick. Choose the man you believe is the best President we ever had. If we could set him in office today, it would not cure this country. The nation might improve, but the problem would be the same – we are a nation under the judgment of God.

Politically, you do what the Lord directs you to do, but don’t ever be deceived into thinking that there is a political solution to the problem of this country. Let me read you a statement by Andrew Street…
And the answer is not to jump on the conservative bandwagon with the old argument: “At least this one [whatever evil it is] is moving slower!” I dare to posit to you that if any redeeming mercy is left for this nation, it will not be sought until after judgment drives us to our knees. The conservatives are only a painkiller against the cancer destroying our nation. Let’s face the pain so we don’t have to die in a coma! Maybe then we’ll get desperate enough for the Word of God to cut us open and remove our sin!” (in “Brush Arbor,” p. 7)

Do you hear what he is saying? At best, political action is just a painkiller that will make life more comfortable. I am not saying political action is wrong, but I am saying it is wrong if we think it will bring any real solution to our greatest problem, because it will not. Nothing short of true repentance will avail, and I am talking about the kind of repentance that occurred at Nineveh.

From time to time we hear people talk about how this country is in a state of revival or spiritual renewal. Certain evidences are given for support. More people are going to church. More people are reading their Bibles. Hear me well. If and when this country experiences true revival, no one will have to convince you. You will be able to see it, and the primary evidence will be repentance.

Sometimes the question arises concerning a church’s stance on political candidates. Is the church allowed to endorse a candidate? You don’t have to worry about this pastor endorsing a candidate. The reason I will not endorse a candidate is because no candidate has the answer, neither this year nor any other year. You won’t even hear me telling you to get out and vote. Now listen carefully. I know some of you believe it is very important to get the Christian vote out. If that is your conviction, that’s fine, but it’s not mine. Some will make the argument: God has given us the privilege of living in this wonderful nation. The least we can do is inform ourselves and vote for the best candidates. What would happen if none of the Christians voted? Surely the nation would be even more ungodly than it already is.

While that argument may sound persuasive, my question is this: What does the Word of God say? Logic may say every believer should vote, but what does the scripture say?

We know what God’s Word says. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17). So what things belong to Caesar? Respect belongs to Caesar. I Pet. 2:17, “… Honor the king.” We are to respect and honor our leaders. Submission belongs to Caesar. In that same passage, we read in I Pet. 2:13-15, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." Yes, we are to obey the laws put forth by those who lead our country.

There is one other thing we owe to Caesar, though it is never demanded in our day. We owe it to Caesar because our God commands it. I am talking about prayer. 1 Tim 2:1-2, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." We are to pray for all, but we are specifically told to pray for those in authority. This is not an option; this is God’s command.

If you sense the Lord directing you to vote, then vote. If you sense He wants you to encourage others to vote, then encourage them. But don’t ever get the idea that you are more spiritual than another because you vote and he doesn’t. That man who doesn’t vote may pray for our leaders far more than you, and who are you to say that your vote is more valuable than his prayers? On the other hand, those who choose note to vote must never consider themselves more spiritual either. Whether you vote or don’t vote, God has commanded you to pray. So pray! As you pray for our leaders, pray that God will lead them and all of us to repentance.

Our primary problem is not the influence of bad leaders; our problem is that we are under the judgment of a holy and righteous God.

III. The Great Problem Is First with the Church, not with the Nation

One of the great revival passages of the Bible is II Chr. 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." What a wonderful promise. That promise was given to the nation of Judah at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. If you go back and read chapter 6, you will find the great prayer of Solomon. In that prayer, Solomon makes a number of specific requests. A typical request of this prayer is found in II Chr 6:26-27… "When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; 27. Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance." Now in chapter 7 we find the Lord’s response to Solomon’s prayer. Let’s read a little bit more than verse 14. Let’s read II Chr 7:11-14…
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12. And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Far too often people have tried to apply this promise to the United States of America. Though there was a time when this nation sought God in a way that it does not do today, this nation has never been God’s people. While no doubt God has worked in this nation, the USA is not and never has been God’s people. If we want to make present application of this passage, we must apply it to God’s people. I think there is certainly a sense in which it can still be applied to God’s people Israel, but surely we can also apply it to the church today. The United States is not called by the Lord’s name, but His church certainly is.

The greatest need for repentance today is not among the general population of the nation and among its leaders, but among the people of God. That is why no political solution will be effective in changing this nation. If there is any hope for this nation, it is in the church. The great problem is that most of the professing church in America sees little need of repentance.

Let me pause there. We must distinguish between the true church and the professing church. I don’t want to be harsh, but surely most of the professing church in America is not the true church. The true church is composed only of those who have the life of Christ within. But before you conclude that it is only those who are not true Christians who are the problem, let me give you a reminder. Paul wrote a letter to the church at Corinth. There were problems in the church and there was a need for repentance. When Paul began to speak about the sexually immoral man in chapter 5, he rebuked the church for its attitude. It is very possible for God’s people to be blind to the need for repentance. How can we expect the nation to come to repentance when we don’t find that attitude in the church?

Conclusion

So what am I saying this morning? You might conclude that I am telling you to just forget about doing anything to try to help our country. That is not what I am saying. I am trying to help us consider what will really help this country and what will not. Again, if the Lord leads you to take political action, then do it. But as you act, realize that your action is only a small part of what the real need is.

So what should we do? Regardless of what we do politically, we must proclaim and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our great hope is not that this nation will be turned around and restored to its former glory. If that is what God decides to do, we’ll praise His name. But what if this nation is destroyed? What then? We will continue "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit. 2:13-14). By the grace of God, we will do those good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10), having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15). We will continually remind ourselves and one another that “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Though many will reject our God, we will rescue some, pulling them out of the fire (Jude 23).
But what about salt and light? Didn’t Jesus say that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world? Doesn’t he intend us to influence our culture? He certainly does. Nothing will influence our culture like “the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God” (II Cor. 4:4). Let’s read again that passage from II Cor. 4:3-6…
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus tells us to let our light shine before men, He does not exclude the message of the gospel. We can’t let our light shine before men and not proclaim Jesus. A light that excludes Jesus is no light at all. What can be preserved without the message of Jesus isn’t worth preserving.

We don’t know what will happen to this nation. Where God leads us to act in trying to preserve it, let us do it with joy. But all the while, may our eyes not be blind to the truth that we are surrounded by people who have no hope and are without God in the world (Eph. 2:12). No political solution will rescue them from hell; that will be accomplished only by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that gospel which calls people to repentance and faith in the Savior. So whatever the Lord leads us to do concerning our nation, let’s do it with the gospel on our lips, righteousness in our steps, and a prayer in our hearts.