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The whole round world has spent this last week watching in stupefied amazement as the american government stands around in a complete deadlock, each of the actors involved too puffed up in their own pride and greed to actually serve the american people they claim to be in service to.
As an interesting side note, if you saw the headlines from this morning, October 6, 2013, you’ll note that despite the government being supposedly shut down, they have enough resources to continue bullying the rest of the world by kidnapping foreign nationals, on foreign soil, just because they label them as terrorists. No real interest in due process, justice, or order. Just the US bullying the rest of the world. But that’s a topic for another day.
Like everything in life, this government shutdown and childish fight between grown men and women who know better, has a spiritual application, when one looks at things from a Bible perspective. On this Sunday, I’m certain you’ll hear from the pulpits of this nation plenty of simplistic sophistry about how this is some example of how people should come together to work through their differences and pontificating about how God wants you all to support these leaders in their efforts and pray for them to find peace. A whole lot of hot air that does despite to the Gospel of Christ. There is a warning here and a rebuke of this nation’s evil government to remind them of their sins and to flee from them.
All human government has its foundation in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is given to us as a helpful restraint to the natural depravity and tendency toward sinful behavior that is inherent in all mankind. As a sharp reminder of His absolute authority and the head of government, we see when Christ returns His rule being asserted and made clear. We read “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:15-16). We read from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing” (Rom 13:1-6). We have a responsibility to recognize the authority that God has put over us in government, because not to do so would be to “resist the ordinance of God” (Rom 13:2).
Moreover, the leaders of a nation have an absolute responsibility not to behave in an unrighteous manner, tending to the needs of those whom they have the rule over, most importantly providing an equal and ready judgment: “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor” (Lev. 19:15). Of course, there is the solemn reminder that whoremonger preachers love to quote “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov 14:34).
Of course, righteousness left this nation long ago, and this warning from Isaiah shows us the outcome of such a thing: “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (Is. 5:22-24).
This nation is leading the world in a light speed plunge toward damnation by pushing same sex marriage and murder of the unborn. The opposite of exaltation is condemnation. When a nation is not exalted due to its righteousness (Pr. 14:34), they are condemned in their sin. It is no surprise that a nation that is condemned in its sins has leaders that cannot come together and make decisions that are in the best interests of the people they are supposed to serve.
This shutdown is not just a simple disagreement between politicians. This is another strong indicator that this nation is not blessed by God and is instead plummeting toward her destruction. Expect more and more of this kind of behavior as Obama grabs for more and more power, and the inept leaders you have chosen to rule over you squabble over what scraps of power he leaves them.
If any of you watching this are God’s sheep, we implore you not to look at this as some miniscule thing. See these signs of the times and understand the time draws short and Christ will soon return with that blood-dipped vesture, stained by the winepress of His wrath. Come out from among them and be separate, little sheep.
Amen.