The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below. Proverbs 15:24

The wise will have an upward bound life. That is what this passage tells us. It promises both an encouragement for the wise - that their path will lead upward. It also gives a warning - that the unwise path will end in Sheol, the place of the dead.

In His commentary on this verse Phillips makes the comment, "Darwin would have us believe that our feet are set surely on the upward way, that may is progressing by slow but sure degrees from protoplasm to paradise." This is the belief of those who account randomness and no purpose whatsoever for our existance and our origin. Unfortunately, both science and sociology tell us a much different story. They tell us a story consistent with the Biblical narrative.

Science reminds us through the second law of thermodynamics that we are in a constant state of decay. Things are not coming together into more order and more stability - they are moving from order to disorder. We look at the astounding complexity of life and see that it screams to us of an intelligent design infinitely higher than that of man. Science also tells us that something is wrong with this world. Things keep dying. It is as is this world has been cursed so that what originally was made - is now devolving into greater and greater chaos. Disease, sickness, pain, and suffering are the norm as we grow older individually - as well as our world grows older corporately.

Social Sciences also do not point in a direction that is good. The history of man is not a history of us getting wiser and wiser. It is not a history of mankind embracing new heights of goodness and mercy. On the contrary, the 20th and 21st centuries have witnessed a cruelty and evil that almost cannot be matched by previous generations. The endless wars and evils of our generation strike us in ways that at times takes the breath away. More people have been brutally murdered and systematically executed than ever before. We've found modern ways to exterminate our children, killing over 250 million of them since the inception of that horrific procedure. We call it population control - God calls it genocide of the innocents. The way of the fool leads to the place of death - that is what we know from experience. The way of the fool leads to pride and arrogance as he says there is no God.

The path of life goes upward for the wise man. He sees things as God sees them. He is blessed no matter what situations and privations await him in life. He knows that this life is not all that there is. In fact the Scriptures teach him that this life is just a fleeting breath. He is like a brief puff of wind that rustles the leaves and he is gone. Therefore he lives for God's will rather than his own lusts. Amazingly, this kind of choice fills him with joy - no matter what he faces in life. For him the worst he will ever face is in this life. He knows that things lead upward for him - until the day that he will embrace eternal life in all its fullness. He tastes it now, finding it sweet and delightful to his soul's palette. But how he yearns for the full meal. This grants him the joys of knowing life and of sterring clear from spiritual death and its ultimate companion, hell.

Things on this earth are not getting better and better. They were ruined by the entrance of sin brought on by man's rebellion and disobedience. Things are falling apart on this earth and will continue to do so until the day God brings an end to this fallen existance. Living for only here and now is therefore the utmost foolishness. The wise man knows this, because he knows God. The wise man therefore lives for eternal things. He lives because of His Creator's mercy in providing salvation through Jesus Christ. He also lives FOR His Creator and Lord - knowing that this is the pathway that leads upward - path this cursed ground - into the very presence of God in glory. Oh, precious ones - take this path!

A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23

Don't you love it when you say the right thing - in the right way - at just the right time? That is what our proverb is about today. It is about being wise enough to know when to speak - and not only that - but what to speak when you have the opportunity.

The beginning of this proverb starts with a Hebraism about the mouth. There is joy in having an answer of the mouth, which the way that this Hebraism would read. It has to do with the ability to speak well - or in this case to speak what helps others. When speaking of Moses' complaint to God about his inability to speak, this similar Hebraism is used. Moses complained to God that he had a "heavy mouth." This meant that he stuttered and stammered when he spoke. This speech problem made Moses think he could not be a spokesman for God. God gave him Aaron to speak for him, but we see plainly that Moses did not struggle to speak when the Spirit of God moved upon him to confront Pharaoh. The mouth of the man here in proverbs knows no such problem. He brings joy to others as they here the "answer of his mouth," which means the perfect thing to say in the moment. Whether this is a word of teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness - the best word to speak is one that is in agreement with God's Word on the matter.

The prophet Nathan spoke the perfect word to David to bring him to repentance over his adultery and cover-up of his sin. Joshua spoke the perfect word to the people of Israel as they needed to decide whether they would serve the Lord. David spoke the perfect word to Goliath to remind him that God was going to give David victory because of Goliath's mocking of God. Daniel had the perfect words to speak to Nebuchadnezzar when he needed his dream interpretted. Jesus always had the perfect word to speak to detractors, to those who were hungry for his Word, and to those who came to Him needy and longing for God's grace and healing.

A timely word is delightful - both to the one who speaks it and to the one who receives it. There are so many who come to church hurting who need to hear such words. They long for a word of encouragement - for someone to lift them up. Others who are complacent and full of themselves need rebuke. Others still may need exhortation because they are timid about following the Lord radically. And a few who are long term church members, but who do not know Christ, need someone to love them by sharing the gospel with them so they can move from just being religious - to being Christians. No matter what the need, God will give us these "answers of the mouth." He will do so as we surrender to Him and desire far more to speak the truth in love - than just to engage in small talk.

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22

What needs to be done to make sure our plans succeed? Today's proverb gives us that information. We find that the counsel God gives us on this helps us to grasp that to be a good leader who is able to make and succeed in plans, we do not need to be someone who can do it all themselves. Contrary to that thought - a good leader is one who when making plans is willing to consult with others. A great leader is one who also regularly consults with God.

Counsel is absolutely necessary when making good plans. Our passage today reminds us that plans are broken and frustrated when we do not do this. The word for frustration here is "parar" which means to break, divide, or frustrate. What is interesting is that the Bible speaks several times to the effect that God is the One Who will frustrate our plans if we do not seek Him in the midst of making them. What is even more fascinating is that we read in Isaiah 14:27, that the Lord's purposes cannot be frustrated. This leads us to the conclusion that the best plans are those made in concert with the will of God. Those are the plans that will stand - and will be established.

The second word that is interesting, especially in light of our plans and purposes needing to be those of God, is the word "consultation." This word is the Hebrew word, "sod" which means counsel or advice. The word has with it the concept of confidentiality and intimacy. Thus this refers to what some would call, "intimate counsel." The idea is that of great intimacy with the one from whom you are receiving counsel. Thus we come to the conclusion that in order to make solid, successful plans we need to have an intimacy with God. This takes planning out of a boring, man-centered process - and puts it into the category of fellowship and intimacy with God. If we lack this intimacy with God in planning - seeking His heart and His purposes to be fullfilled - we can expect some level of frustration and a fracturing of our plans.

When we have many counselors our plans succeed. The reason for this is because many counselors will help us to see our thinking and our personal planning from multiple perspectives. This will help us not fall into the trap of our own personal agenda taking over our plans. Another way of saying this is it keeps us from planning in the flesh. There will be enough feedback and counsel to rescue us from just doing what we want.

Planning is a good thing, but it breaks down when we make it too "me-centric." We are not farsighted enough to see everything that needs to be seen. We are too selfish not to see that we need multimple perspectives on a planned undertaking. The wise man therefore surrounds himself with a group of people who will help him see through another perspective than his own. The wiser man also spends much time in the presence of the Lord as he seeks to know what is the best course of action - and the best way to make his plans. This man will succeed.

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.   Proverbs 15:21

All it takes is watching a normal evening of television to know that folly and fools are exalted in our entertainment.  We see them every evening, ignoring the warnings of God's Word.  Yet night by night we also sit and watch them and laugh at their antics.  We laugh even though there are times when the direction of the program and its heros is absolutely contrary to Scripture.  What happens in a nation when this is the case?

Ours used to be a culture that confirmed our values in our entertainment.  Shows like, "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith Show" tended to confirm our values and beliefs about righteousness and godliness.  They did not proclaim Christ, but they at least held to a certain standard on what was right and wrong.  Then something started to happen in the 60's.  Those in the entertainment industry abandoned godly values and things like strong families and morals.  We exalted the anti-hero and began to plumb the depths of the depravity of man and call it entertainment.  Then shows like "All in the Family" arose which allowed only hypocrites to be those who spoke of what had been known as family values.  From there things continued to descend into the pit - as sexuality became a consistent theme.  Now just about any and every vice is portrayed for us in dramas and sitcoms - and often they are extolled as main characters hold to these sins.  All the while our culture sits and laughs and finds a false joy in all these parading fools and their folly. 

When we read this proverb it might be easy to think that it refers to others, but I fear that it comes much closer to home.  The devil has used this medium well to give us ample opportunity to sit and actually mock our own values.  This is why it is so dangerous to have unfiltered viewing habits as to television and movies. 

We read of another kind of person in this passage though.  He is a man of understanding.  This word speaks of someone who sees as he ought to see.  He grasps the Word of God - understands it and grasps what it teaches.  As a result he does not get off the path that God has for him - and indeed for all who desire to know and love Him.  He walks straight - and does not turn his eyes or gaze to the right or to the left.  He fixes his eyes on the goal - which is conformity to the character and the way of Jesus Christ.  Even though the world may seek to get his attention and turn it from the Lord Jesus Christ - he does not listen.  He deafens his ears to the siren call of the world which will only land a man on the rocks of destruction in the end.  He has tuned his ears to hearing the voice of God.  He has learned to be a sheep who hears the Great Shepherd - and follow Him.  Wise indeed is the man who sets his heart and mind in this way.  

A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.   Proverbs 15:20

At first look this proverb might look a little prejudiced, giving dad all the gladness and mom the pleasure of being despised by the foolish son.  Yet the proverb actually reveals some interesting things to us about children and how they affect both parents as they grow older and make choices according to the way that we have taught them. 

One would think this proverb is about parents and their reward for rearing godly children, but it is not.  It is rather a proverb dealing with children - and is a warning to them.  First, we see that a wise son makes his father glad.  When you see a son who is wise, he is going to be the delight of both parents, but especially his dad.  He will speak glowingly of his boy, not because of all his achievements, but rather because he acts with wisdom in all his ways.  You can have a very successful son in the eyes of the world, and still have a child who is a fool.  Many fortunes have been won then lost because a young man is filled with business savvy, but has no wisdom in the way he lives with the riches he amasses.  A wise son, though not rich or wealthy, is such a delight to his father.  He watches his boy make good decisions - to love his wife and his children.  He watches as his boy makes decisions according to the wisdom his father has taught him - both his earthly and heavenly Father that is. 

Our proverb turns to the mother though, and refers to how her foolish son treats her.  The passage says that he despises her.  The word for "despises" is the Hebrew word "bazah" which means to hold in contempt and disdain; to consider worthless or vile.  It is quite a strong word and it indicates a child who is very foolish because he does not appreciate his mother.  He holds her in contempt even though she has loved him  and cared for him.  Many a foolish boy is ashamed of his mother - and cringes when she shows him love openly.  Such a young man will not be blessed in his life, because he disdains one of the choicest servants he will ever know.  In despising his mother like this, he disains his father on earth - her husband, and he disains his Father in heaven - her maker and the One who gave her to him. 

How a child views his mother has much to say about his heart.  The child who is more concerned with looking cool to his friends will treat his mother with contempt and disdain.  He breaks her heart often - even though she continues to serve and love him.  This young man has no humility or gratefulness, which will come back to haunt him later in life.  He spurns her wisdom for the opinions of his foolish friends.  Solomon's son did this with his father's advisors and watched his kingdom split as a result. 

Oh, young man - and honestly, even older men.  Treasure the mother that God gave you as one of His choicest gifts.  Openly acknowledge her to others and praise her before your friends.  I often tell people that when a young man courts your daughter, pay close attention to how he treats his mother.  You are watching in that how he will one day treat your daughter.  When a man cannot love and honor and treasure his mom, you are looking at a fool.  That fool will not prosper in ways that matter for eternity - you can bank on the Word of God that this will be true.  Therefore fathers, teach your sons by your actions and attitudes to honor their mothers - to thank them for all that they have done for them.  Teach them that this is practice for having a prosperous and delightful marriage.  If they cannot treasure the woman who they can see - how will they be ready to treasure one they have not seen yet?

The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.   Proverbs 15:19

How are you at getting to things in life?  Is it difficult to get going on things - to start projects - to get things done at work - at home - anywhere?  This is an interesting thing to consider, especially in light of the proverb for today.  We are going to see that this trait may point to things that may have cause for some serious thought - and possibly some repentance.

The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns.  This is the first thing we see as we look at today's proverb.  First we see that God's word calls a man lazy.  This is a character description.  It means that he will not work - or better said from this verse - won't get around to working.  He is probably undisciplined and most likely unprofitable to himself, his employer, his family, and ultimately his God.  His way, we read here, is as a hedge of thorns.  Biblically this is more than just our garden variety North American thorn hedge.  In Israel they had some very serious thorn hedges.  They were extremely thick and were excellent fences around their fields.  Pretty much nothing could get through these hedges.  For the lazy man - his way is as a hedge of thorns.  The word "way" here means his lifestyle.  This man is averse to work, therefore he can find a million different reasons why he does not work.  They sound somewhat convincing until you realize he is just lazy and doesn't want to work.  His excuses are lame - and simply are cover for his lack of character.

The upright has a much different path.  This man is godly and understands the value of faithfulness and working hard.  Rather than constantly finding ways that he can get out of work - the godly man wants to do things that benefit his family, his friends, his community, and ultimately even himself.  His path is like a highway - nothing blocking him and preventing him from accomplishing his goals. 

To answer the questions at the beginning of this article, we should turn and take a good look at our actions.  Then we should turn again and look inward a little.  What is it that is keeping us from getting things done like we want?  It is not the things we might think.  It is a lack of character and godliness.  The Holy Spirit wants to bear fruit in our lives - fruit like faithfulness and self-control.  If we do not see such things in our lifestyle - maybe we should take a closer look at things like our adherance to a biblical work ethic.  Maybe we should also take a much closer look at our spiritual condition and walk with God.  If our proverb is right, we may just find the answers to our questions there.

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.   Proverbs 15:18

Whenever we face a situation where we can react in anger we have a choice.  I know that some don't think so because they say that so-in-so made me angry - or such-and-such a situation made me mad.  The facts would say something much different.  They say that we control our temperment - not that circumstances and people control what we do.  Today's proverb helps us understand this.  Each day as we begin to interact with people and face a world filled with its varicolored situations, we need to do so making a conscious choice.  What that choice should be is the topic of God's wise counsel to us in this verse.

We have a choice whether we are going to be "hot-tempered" or not.  The Hebrew word for "hot-tempered" is very instructive and descriptive here.  It is "chemah" and means to be rage-filled, angry, and filled with poison or venom.  This is fascinating because we need to make a conscious choice not to have the venom and poison of the evil one flowing through our veins as we walk through our day.  By this I am not saying that we are demon possessed or anything fantastical like that.  Instead I refer to a much more subtle thing that energizes the strife that will follow such a man through his day.  Let me explain.

Each day we live we interact with others and with our environment from morning to night.  As we do this we have both problems and problem people come into our lives.  It is possible as we do this to be bitten by the evil one in such a way that his venom and poison enters our system.  This usually happens when someone hurts our feelings - or tramples what we perceive to be our right to be treated better or with a certain modicum of respect.  It can also happen when we begin to entertain the thought that a certain set of providential circumstances are a raw deal.  If we are not careful to cry out to God to remove such venom from the veins of our thinking and our heart - it can begin to do its insidious work in us.  Over time this poison will turn to bitterness against someone - resentment grows to a point where what at first was an annoyance becomes a seething cauldron of anger and rage toward someone.  In regard to circumstances that our God allows providentially in our lives, we can think Him cruel and uncaring.  This poison will turn our hearts a deep shade of bitter - and we soon find it hard to read His Word, pray, and ultimately to trust Hiim to cause all things to work for good.  As the infection spreads deeper in our reasoning, we soon become angry at our core - which is where this one is in this verse.  Thus the temper of his soul is such that he is constantly stirring up strife.  I've known men over the years who say that trouble seems to follow them.  But in a majority of the cases, they were one who had allowed the venom of the evil one through slights and circumstantial difficulties to  reach a critical mass in their hearts.  The trouble they perceived to follow them - really was trouble that they encoruaged because they are so angry in their core.  I've even watched this in some who do this not through active agression - but through passive-agressive actions and words (or the lack of them). 

There is another choice we can make in the Lord.  That is that we become those who calm disputes.  These are those who have at their core a work of the grace of God that makes them slow to anger.  The Hebrew word used for this is one that is also used to describe long pinions - which are the largest feathers on the wing of birds.  These particular feathers are used in birds to reduce drag on their wings thus helping them control both the wind and the turbulence that is natural in the sky while they fly.  What an astounding picture this is for us of the patient, long-suffering man who chooses to calm disputes rather than fuel them.  Like a bird who uses their long pinions to ride the wind while diffusing the problems it causes - these people ride the events of everyday life.  They choose to deflect and diffuse both the insults and indignities of life - as well as the problematic providences that we cannot change.  Rather than  having such things make their flight a bumpy one, their choice to be slow to anger allows them to ride the difficulties of living on earth rather than having the things of earth ride rough-shod over them.

A wise man knows that life is not going to be fair - neither is it going to bow down and kiss his feet every day.  He knows that since we live in a fallen world, that he will run into fallen people who act . . . well, they act fallen.  Therefore he chooses to turn to God, who deals with the indignities of over 7 billion people daily, and yet who does not consume them with His wrath.  This grace daily allows him to stretch forth his spiritual pinions and diffuse the problems and the poison that would turn him from being a peaceful, gracious man into an angry strife-ridden one.  May God give us mercy that we would be such men and women.

All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.  Proverbs 15:15 (NASB)

So, how is your attitude lately?  Here in today's proverb we have an interesting truth that is being presented to us.  The truth has to do with what is governing our hearts, or said another way, our choice to how we look at our circumstances in life.  We can choose this, whether you know that or not, and it will truly govern what kind of day we are going to experience.  Intrigued? Then let's take a look at the proverb today and learn how choosing our attitude each day in response to the grace of God can govern in many ways what kind of day we are going to have.

All the days of the afflicted are bad.  This seems to be a "University of Duh" kind of statement, if there was not a second part to this proverb.  But this is not speaking of those who are dealing with affliction and hardship and trouble alone.  The second half of the proverb points us to what is ruling in a man's heart.  The truth of the matter is that often feeling bad in the midst of affliction is far more a matter of the heart than it is just the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Let me explain.

There are those who in the midst of very difficult affliction seem to thrive and keep a great attitude - and - there are those who even in abundance, consider themselves afflicted.  I've watched people face the most awful circumstances and still have a cheerful attitude.  They are the kind of people you go visit in the hospital, and after leaving the room you wonder who came to encourage who?  You can supposedly to encourage and lift their spirits - but leave honestly more encouraged by them.  They seem to have an almost inconquerable spirit about them.  The reason being is that they do not face life thinking they are afflicted.  They do not look at the glass as always half empty.  They look at things in light of the grace of God. 

When you realize that you deserve hell and the wrath of God for your sin.  When you grasp that you honestly deserve nothing but punishment and affliction for the choice to grieve God and live in rebellion to His will.  Then you grasp that God in His mercy did NOT punish you - and then in infinite grace sent His Son to pay the price for your rebellion and sin.  That you have been given life and life abundantly instead in Christ Jesus.  Well, then nothing in this life can even begin to disturb you at your core.  I am not saying that afflictions won't hurt and  that problems might not get you down initially.  But the fact of your salvation should blow your mind and bring you to where you have continually a cheerful heart.  Paul warned the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord.  He told them again that they should rejoice.  This was to protect them from having the sense of an afflicted heart - that would eventually see a cloud inside of every silver lining.  Instead we should see how God in His mercy had blessed us beyond all measure.  When we see this, we should be filled with a happy heart - a redeemed heart - a joyful heart - and as we read here a cheerful heart.  Grace and grace alone is ground to have this indominatable cheerfulness control and utterly dominate your demeanor.

The cheerful heart, we read here, has a continual feast.  Christians should have a great attitude - at all times.  We should know that light and momentary discomforts (which when you read what Paul called light and momentary seem far from that description) are working for us an eternal weight of glory.  We need to know that the varicolored trials and difficulties that we face are reason to rejoice exceedingly - for they are working endurance in our lives.  This endurance will result in being mature and complete - lacking nothing in our lives.  There is nothing - absolutely nothing that will ever separate us from the love of God that was given to us in Christ Jesus.  Therefore even death is not a problem any more.  We can walk through life knowing that the final foe is defeated.  This, dear saints, is what can fill your heart with joy (i.e. here called cheerfulness) no matter what is going on in your life.  I've even seen those facing death have a cheerfulness about their demeanor. 

So, what will be your choice today?  Will you walk about as one of the continually afflicted - manifesting an "Eyeore-ish" ability to see the reason to not rejoice?  That will make every day that you live seem as if it has some bad aspect to it.  There is another choice, which is to fill your heart with a joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul said it best in Romans chapter 5 when he said, "Therefore, having been made righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully. Proverbs 14:35

Anyone who has ever worked knows the difference between receiving the favor of your boss versus receiving an angry rebuke or tirade. Today's proverb reminds us that when we serve others - especially a king or person in high authority - it is good to be prudent in how we perform our duties.

The king will show favor to a servant who acts wisely. The word for "wisely" here is the Hebrew word, "sakal" which has as its root meaning to act with prudence. One who acts wisely takes time to consider his actions. He ponders what the consequences are for a word that he speaks or an action that he takes. He wants to understand and have insight into what he does. Any leader loves having such a servant or employee. They are not quick to rush into things and as a result make fewer mistakes. They are good employees because they honestly think of the good of the company - and are prone to being selfless toward others.

The king or boss in a situation will react with angrer though toward someone who acts shamefully. The idea behind this word is to cause shame or disgrace. Leaders know that when someone is not thinking and not pondering their choices - they will inevitably walk into a lot of problems. These particular problems are enough to shame a boss - or disgrace a king. It should not shock us therefore to learn that the king or boss reacts with wrath against this one. They are not only falling down on the job - but they are failing in a way that is bringing shame and disgrace on the business.

The foolish man acts without taking time to think about what is about to do. He has even less knowledge of the potential consequences for what he is doing. He does not want any restraint upon himself. The wise man looks things over and is careful to make a decision consistent with what is best for his authorities. That is why the king shows him such favor.

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.   Proverbs 14:34

Today we look at how a nation is blessed or disgraced.  According to our proverb righteousness or doing what is right exalts a nation.  Therefore, if we want to be exalted and blessed, we must choose consistently what is right.  But our nation faces a serious problem when it comes to this proverb.  We no longer believe in a right and a wrong.  Having bought the post-modern mindset hook, line, and sinker, we now believe that there is nothing more to believe in except what we want to believe in.  Truth is in the eye of the beholder.  Therefore we no longer hold to an absolute right and wrong.  We no longer have a moral code that governs the hearts of men.

Our courts have decided that what is truly dangerous in our nation is to publicly display the 10 commandments so that school children can see them and read them.  Never mind that one of the writers of our Constitution said that we have placed our hope in our ability to obey these Laws of God.  Never mind that though we openly persecute the Christian moral code, we openly teach other religions in our classrooms under the guise of multiculturalism.  It is dangerous to tell children not to murder, not to steal, not to lie or commit adultery.  Thus we have our current modern dilemma.  A society that decries the lack of civility as new acts of violence shock us worse that the previous ones that maudelinly decorated our newpapers and newcasts just weeks earlier.  We wonder why kids would go into schools and wantonly kill each other.  We are shocked at the debauchery of the generation that is coming up - astonished at their lack of conscience as they commit crimes with an ever-increasing display of horror. 

We don't get it.  Righteousness exalts a nation!  We must return to an absolute truth that lays down absolute morals by which we are to live.  What is astounding to me though is that such a righteousness will degenerate in one generation if all we rely upon is the rule of law to do it.  We are incapable of righteousness in our own strength.  Righteousness will only come by grace through faith.  It comes to us as we turn from our own sinful and selfish ways and turn to Jesus Christ - the One Who came to die for our sins.  It comes to us only as God's grace reaches out to us and grants us life.  Thus we find that the righteousness that will exalt our nation will only come with a return to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then we are saved - we are redeemed - we are regenerated so that we desire to do God's will.  Without the gospel law will break down into moralistic teachings taught by hypocrites who do not even do the things they teach others.  The sad reality though is that we as a nation have legislated the gospel out of our society.

There is a false teaching that exists in the legislative world called the separation of church and state.  This supposed wall exists in the interpretation that some pseudo-scholars have invented about the First Ammendment to the Constitution.  That ammendment was put there to keep the state out of the churches' buisness.  It was put there so that we would not have a state run church.  Unfortunately it has been misinterpretted to mean that any open expression of Christianity within any state run or funded activity is prohibited.  Thus our legislators have inadvertently chosen a state religion for all of us.  It is the lack of God in our nation - at least the God of the Bible.  So . . . our national religion is now either atheism and its more ignoranty companion, agnosticism - or it is any other religion than Christianity.  What our founders sought to protect has been used in such a way as to openly persecute and wantonly disintegrate the faith that most of them held when they wrote it.

It should not shock us that we are a nation that has shunned righteousness.  The churches did not hold fast the truth and spread the gospel.  The corresponding lack of believers in the land, or worse, the proliferation of false believers who misuse and abuse the Scriptures, has led to a dearth of them in office.  The lack of a Christian presence among the governing elite of our land has lead to a lack of respect for our founders' faith.  Thus we have become a people who more and more legislate sin as the new righteousness of our land.  We have decided to say that it is open season on unwanted babies and call it abortion - or a woman's right to choose.  We have decided to destroy the black community and the poor by saying that we will allow a welfare state that rewards sexual promiscuity and having babies out of wedlock.  We also have decided that work is no longer a sacred duty - but act like it is mercy to provide a living without requiring labor.  We no longer call heterosexual immorality what God calls it - fornication - but feel that sleeping together or living together is a more genteel way of designating it.  Rather than encourage faithfulness in marriage, we have advocated easy divorce and speak of blended families rather than broken ones.  We have decided that homosexuality is not an abomination - no! - it is an alternate lifestyle.  It even needs to be taught to the youngest of our children as a wonderful alternative to the straight people who are so hateful as to hold a biblical viewpoint.  Our banks and businesses fail because we have reared a generation of crooks who no longer think that, "Thou shalt not steal" applies to them.  Scandal after scandal rocks our statehouses and churchhouses as the concept of integrity in leadership fades as a mere memory of the past. 

Does all this kind of shock and depress you?  It should because sin is a disgrace to any people.  To live like we have lived is to be disgraceful.  To reject the living God for the idols of our current generation is an act of foolishness.  It is foolish becuse we have rejected the Fountain of Living Waters to hew cisterns, broken ones, that can hold no water.  Even history mocks our choices as we ignore the civilizations that have fallen before us.  We turn a blind eye to the same sins that portended their demise and characterized the rot from within that toppled them. 

We need to turn to God in prayer - humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways.  We need a national revival first in our churches.  They need to return to the faith of our fathers - seeing Christianity as the truth - and Jesus as the only way of salvation from a selfish and self-gratifying lifestyle.  Even more than this we must remember that we will stand in God's judgment - which has already begun.  We need to fear God which is the beginning of wisdom for us - and for our nation.  Then we need a nation-shaking spiritual awakening that sees millions come to Christ.  If we do not see such a thing - we are doomed to the ash heap of societies.  Written over us in the end will be the same words written over Babylon - "Mene, Mene, Teckel, Upharsin."  America has been weighed in the scales and found wanting.  We will fall to another rising power with another statement written as our postscript.  "Here lies the United States of America in ruins for she turned from righteousness and chose sin . . . which is a disgrace for any people."