Too Soon

One of the warnings that Moses spoke to Israel was about what would happen if they forgot God. Read these words carefully: 

      And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
       Jacob, to give thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not, and houses full of all good things, which thou fi lledst not,
       and cisterns hewn out, which thou hewedst not, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou plantedst not, and thou shalt eat and be full;
       then beware lest thou forget Jehovah, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage
       (Deuteronomy 6:10–12).

     From his experience with them shortly after their deliverance from Egypt, Moses knew that this was a very real danger. In writing of their idolatrous rebellion at Mount Sinai, the psalmist noted this. Psalm 106:21 says, “They forgat God their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt.” Too soon they forgot God’s holiness, His power, and His mercy to them. Jeremiah wrote, “Their fathers forgat my name for Baal” (Jeremiah 23:27). Further, Hosea wrote of a time when Judah “went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith Jehovah” (Hosea 2:13).
     From these verses we can see that their forgetting God was not an isolated incident. Tracing Israel’s history is somewhat like a wild roller-coaster ride, for it shows the peaks of glory to which she arose and the depths of despair into which she sank. Her highs and lows can be traced to her desire and willingness to faithfully serve God. All was well with the people when they served God, but when they rebelled against Him, trouble followed in swift pursuit.
     As we think on these things, surely we are reminded of our own country. God has blessed America in more ways than we can count. Does He receive honor and glory for what He has done and continues to do? At one time this question would have been answered with a resounding yes. Today, however, we must answer no for the greater portion of our people. God has been cast off, left behind, and completely deserted by too many. Thus far He has patiently waited for our return to Him. While we will not say that the recent violent weather is generated by Him as chastisement, these calamities ought to remind us of God’s power. They should cause us to look inwardly and realize that life is fragile and that we need to submit to the will of God.
     This is Memorial Day weekend, but how many people will give a second thought to the sacrifi ces that have been made for the freedom we enjoy? Many have died on the battlefi eld so we can walk with God without fear of our government’s opposing us. Even today we are engaged in wars on several fronts to help others gain some of the freedom we enjoy. But at the bottom of this is the fact that God has blessed America. Will we honor Him in return?
     Somewhere in the ’60s we seemed to take a downward turn. There was much unrest and all that went with it. It was an unsettled time for the country, but many were still holding tenaciously to morals taught in the Bible. However, it seems that the unrest of that era opened the gates for what we now see throughout the land—blatant defi ance of God! God has been pushed aside for many other things, so much so that we could be called an idolatrous nation. (Paul said that covetousness is idolatry [Colossians 3:5].) It’s frightening to even think this, and much more so to put it in writing. We cannot escape the truth, however. America is on a slippery slope to ruin because she has forgotten God. 
     As we think of these things, we need to internalize them, asking ourselves personal and deepprobing questions. Have I forgotten God? Do I allow God complete control of my life? When Jesus was asked what is the fi rst and great commandment, He replied,

       Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy
         neighbor as thyself (Luke 10:27).

     To say we love God is insuffi cient, for Jesus also said, “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We may shout at the top of our voices that we love God; we may sing with sweet harmony, “O how I love Jesus,” but the proof is in our actions. So can I truthfully say that I love God?
     It is time for God’s people to return to Him, fully trusting His wisdom and diligently following His will. If every person who has obeyed the rudiments of the gospel would wholly follow the Lord, what a change we would see. Our desire should drive us to be wholly holy, for without holiness no man will see God (Hebrews 12:14). Once more we must pursue truth and righteousness. Once again we must become a people who will not give place to the devil. Rather, like Jesus, we must say, “Get thee behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:23). As Christian soldiers we must fi ght the good fi ght of faith, laying hold of and keeping our grip on eternal life. We must never give up! On this day, and every other day, let us remember what God has done for you.

                                                                                                              —Dale E. Andrews