Are you concerned is a question I ask myself also. My answer is YES. I‘m very concerned about what’s happening in America today. Being an American citizen for over four decades, I never thought I would witness the lawlessness and total disregard for law and order that’s taking place. I wonder if this is a great concern to all Bible-believing Christians, as it should be.
The COVID-19 pandemic is most serious and cannot be ignored by any means. There are many life-lessons to be learned from this health crisis. We are greatly indebted to the doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers for their services in helping to restore patients back to health. Over time we have seen the kindness and generosity of people who give of their time and money to support various desperate causes and needs. May God bless them real good.
The unjustified and brutal killing of George Floyd by a police officer is beyond human reasoning and comprehension. The public has every constitutional right to protest this depraved act. Our hearts go out to Mr Floyd’s family and loved ones as we share their pain.
However, what has been taking place today has absolutely nothing to do with sympathy and concern for the situation. Rioting, looting, arson, anarchy, and other criminal activities seem to be the order of the day for some. It defies common sense and begs the question, how did we as a nation get to this point?
It is no secret that many of our elected officials and those running for public office have remained dead silent for whatever reasons. Reckless behavior of the kind we are witnessing should be, and must be condemned without reservation. Entrepreneurs and law abiding citizens have been paying a hefty price as a result. The question is, when will it stop? The obvious answer is “only God knows,” because there seems to be no end in sight.
Maybe some who are convinced that things are “not that bad.” Those who think like that fail to recognize the awfulness and sinfulness of SIN, which is absolutely the root cause of the problem. Since God Almighty created mortal man, isn’t He the only one who is able to accurately explain the true nature of His creation? This leaves no room for doubt.
Let’s turn to the inspired truth of holy Scripture for answers. Here is God’s summing up of man. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9,10). This is God’s diagnosis of the true human nature. We don’t have to wonder why a sinful man acts the way he does.
There’s also another Biblical summing up man, which is “The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” (Ecclesiastes 9:3). Here we see that wickedness is in man’s heart as long as he lives.
The “heart” referred to is not the muscle that pumps blood over the human body. Rather, the heart is the conscience of man, the seat of understanding, emotions, and affections. It is the place where decisions are made. And only God is able to look at man from the inside out. “God is more concerned with the state of people’s heart than with the state of their feelings” (A.W. Tozer)
The Bible paints a vivid picture of godless people, of whom God declares, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1). Then God describes who these people are. “They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:1,3). This is a Psalm of King David written centuries ago, yet remains applicable in the twenty-first century. And specifically, very applicable to the lawless situations existing in the United States at this moment.
As I read, study, and apply God’s Word, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am able to discern a few things that may be contributing to the existing affairs in America today. There’s absolutely no doubt people need the Lord, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Sin means missing the mark—failure to meet the divine standard.
One wonders whether God has allowed the present situation to get our attention. Now could be a golden opportunity to uncompromisingly take a stand for those things that are most surely believed among us as Christians. People need encouragement. People need to know that others care. People need hope. People need to see Christ in us.
As “ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20), we proclaim the gospel. “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Therefore, “Let us not grow weary doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).
Time is short. Our Savior will soon return. Let’s be asking ourselves, “am I doing everything to spread the good news that Christ died for our sins?” Also encourage other believers to stand with a firm commitment to serve the King of kings. The world stands for nothing and falls for everything. It’s good to reflect inwardly. Self-examination enables us to see how well we are running the Christian race, looking unto Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? (2 Corinthians 13:5). This is the believer’s self-test to ensure that our lives are completely dedicated to God. Not being conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of the mind to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.