April 13
Josh 7:16-9:2 | PS 82:1-8 | Prov 13:2-3 | Luke 16:1-18
What is wrong with our nation? Why are we on a downward trajectory? Why are we crumbling from within? These questions will result in a multitude of answers, as many point to one symptom of our degraded society after another. As a physician, when seeking a diagnosis for an individual who is ill, there is often one underlying diagnosis. We begin with a list of signs and symptoms, and then work with something called a differential diagnosis, as we reduce our options to one, which is the final diagnosis or root cause of the patient’s problems. The final diagnosis as to why our nation is failing is godlessness. Politicians seek to put bandaids on one symptom or another, but we have a sin problem. Sin is not dealt with. In fact, it is applauded in our godless society. Sin has consequences, but in our society it remains unpunished. The police, sadly, have been openly disrespected by those in positions of power and the media. Our justice system is politically motivated, and does not uphold the things of God. Families are rotting from the sins of their parents. Neighborhoods are rotting from the unpunished sins of their people. Our educational system is rotting due to the godlessness pushed forth by the educational agenda. Our medical system is rotting due to the godlessness pushed forth by those in charge of the healthcare system. Godlessness is glamorized by a perverse media. The United States has become a modern day Sodom. Realize the sin of Sodom is a shamelessness to sin. People no longer blush. They are godless and emboldened. God cannot bless such a nation. He is rich in mercy and grace, but most in our nation don't see anything wrong with their godless behavior.
After the major victory over Jericho, it seemed as though nothing could stop the Israelites. But such was not the case, as the sin of one man had a major impact. God was very specific in how to handle the possessions in Jericho, but we read in Joshua 7:1, "But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel." This resulted in God's hand being removed from the Israelites which not only resulted in a demoralizing defeat from a nation, Ai, which was far inferior in statute to Jericho, but also resulted in the death of 36 troops. Joshua, their leader, was demoralized, but we read in 7:10-11, "So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff." After Achan was found out, we read of how this sin was dealt with in 7:24-25, "Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones."
Does this seem extreme? Achan's sin may seem trivial, but was responsible for a large loss of life, including his own family. It could have changed the trajectory of an entire military campaign. We are not that just. We are not that fair. We are not that intelligent. Sin is sin. God gets to determine what is sin and what is not. We have no ability to make that call. Remember that sin is an archery term, indicating missing the bullseye. Even one degree off from that standard is sin. We are not one degree off in our society, but way off the mark. We need to call what God calls sin, sin. Unless we uphold the things of God, and seek Him with all of our heart, no political change, no simple reform will have any effect on the root cause of our nation's, and often our family's and our own downward trajectory. Our sin problem must be dealt with. It requires more than confession, or simply apologizing for our sin. It requires repentance, or a change of mind. Nothing short of that will suffice.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: