The Only Hope For America
By Rich Carmicheal
"‘And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,’ declares the Lord God" (Ezek. 22:30-31).
We know clearly from Scripture that the heart of God is to save and deliver, not to judge and destroy. He is patient toward us and slow to anger, desiring that no one perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). However, when a nation, or a church, or an individual continues in sin and refuses to repent, there comes the point at which God is so grieved by man’s rebellion and wickedness that He pours out the deserved judgment.
Sadly and tragically, America is on the brink of such serious judgment. Thirty years ago David Wilkerson, in his book Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth, described the reason for the terrible judgment looming over this nation: "It is because America has sinned against the greatest light. Other nations are just as sinful, but none are as flooded with gospel light as ours. God is going to judge America for its violence, its crimes, its backslidings, its murdering of millions of babies, its flaunting of homosexuality, its corruption, its drunkenness and drug abuse, its form of godliness without power, its lukewarmness toward Christ, its rampant divorce and adultery, its lewd pornography, its child molestations, its cheatings, its robbings, its dirty movies, and its occult practices." And how much more grievous is the sin today?
Of course, some measure of judgment is already upon us. The God who makes nations great and who destroys them (Job 12:23) is already allowing America to experience the breakdown that comes with pride and rebellion. The Scripture warns us that God is not mocked – what we sow, we reap (Gal. 6:7). America is losing her greatness because of the sin of her people. Have we not reached the point described in the Book of Judges in which this nation is doing "evil in the sight of the Lord" and everyone is doing "what [is] right in his own eyes"? (2:11; 21:25). When the nation reaches such a point, the Book of Judges reveals over and over that judgment is certain to follow.
The Response of God’s People
It is not surprising that unbelievers continue on in defiance of God. What is surprising is that many in the church are apathetic, lukewarm and casual about sin; or, even worse, are themselves actively rebelling against the Lord and His Word. This is an hour when God’s people should be filled with grief over the state of this nation, and even more so over the state of the church. The terrible condition of this nation is, after all, a reflection of the condition of the church. "…It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God" (1 Pet. 4:17). The only hope for the nation is humility, prayer and repentance on the part of God’s people (2 Chr. 7:14).
Although the front page message "We Plead Or We Perish" was written over thirty years ago, it seems that it was written for this very hour. The situation is that critical and desperate. Judgment is that imminent.
Thankfully, God’s heart is that we plead. He is searching for those who will "build up the wall and stand in the gap" before Him so that He will not have to send the impending judgment. His desire is for spiritual awakening and revival.
So the question is not in regard to God’s heart, but in regard to us. Will we respond? Have we finally reached the point where we will cast off our apathy, lukewarmness and sin, and turn our full attention to the Lord? It should drive us to our knees in deep humility, repentance and intercession to know that what happens to America in the days ahead is dependent upon our response as God’s people.