A National Harvest

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that naturewill reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

I believe it was John Piper, who recently was commenting on our nation and some Christians' concerns about the ramifications of national policies regarding abortion, gay marriage, banning prayer in schools, etc... I loved what he had to say. Basically, he was suggesting that the ramifications are the acts themselves. The consequence of legislation allowing for these things is that they happen. In other words, we sow an environment where children can be murdered, families can be broken and schools can be Godless therefore we reap children being murdered, families breaking apart and Godless schools. Piper said we should stop looking for the "punishment" of God - we were already living it.

I think this is so true. I think we tend to expect God to unleash his rage upon our nation for the bad choices we are making in some sort of dramatic way - but what can be more dramatic than what I wrote above? I think expecting something more only reveals the desensitization we've gone through to think that something more severe is necessary.

Yesterday, when I found myself and the larger Christian community holding our breath, waiting to see what atrocities will befall us over the next four years (and quite possibly 8) I was struck with how wrong that approach is. Scott from Air1 radio was talking about the book of Daniel. He was pointing out that King Darius and King Nebe-K (hopefully you know who I mean as I am not looking up how to spell that) were HORRIBLE. Akin to Hitler, horrible. And yet, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abenny didn't have secret meetings where they freaked out about the state of the Jewish people (which was WAY worse than ours, by the way) and where they shook their head in disbelief at the culture around them. NO. They had Out In the Open Prayer Meetings where they humbily lifted up their nation and its leaders.

Let's wonder for a minute what would have happened if, instead, they had reaped fear, anxiety, and frustration. What would have happened? What actually happened? God unleashed miracle after miracle which resulted in BOTH kings turning their hearts to God and nationally declaring the Lord was the One True God to a polythiestic pagan culture.

We have a choice right now. We can either continue sowing negative rhetoric, where we are sarcastic, critical, judgemental and doubtful or we can get on our knees before The Commander in Cheif, The King of All Kings, The One who TRULY holds the Highest Office in our Land and PRAY.

My heart is breaking for the Obama family right now. They are such a target for so much hate. Those beautiful girls. PRAY. That marriage. PRAY. Michelle Obama's mother will be living WITH THEM in the White House. PRAY. The intense amount of pressure and stress they, but especially Barack will be under every day. PRAY.

We can reap a harvest of protection, love, guidance, humility, respect, and peace... but it will depend on what we sow. The condition of this nation is not about their political policies. It's about our prayer.