Word for Word 12/9/20

Metamorphosis of A Nation

Hello Friends! One of the great marvels of creation is the process of metamorphosis, that being the caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly.  This process can be compared to when a person asks Jesus Christ to come into his or her life as their Lord and Savior and the resulting transformation in that person’s life from that decision.  For the followers of Jesus Christ, this is called being born-again.

Well, today I’d like to share about another metamorphosis - one that takes place in a nation. Remember, metamorphosis is the process of changing form or shape, structure or substance. In the book of Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 we read, “woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”

When a nation turns away from God and the godly foundation on which it was established, the turning of the spirit will inevitably  lead to a turning of values - the changing of standards, laws and precepts.  It will rewrite the tablets.  It will alter the underpinnings on which it has stood, that which had long been upheld as right, it will now judge as evil, and what it had long opposed as wrong, it now champions. What was once revered is now despised. Those who oppose the ways of God are lifted up, and those who uphold God’s ways are persecuted.

Our nation’s culture once upheld the sanctity of sexuality and marriage as sacred. But now sexual immorality is embraced. Our culture once looked upon children as a blessing, but since 1973, to date our country has slaughtered over 60 million babies in their mothers’ wombs. The sacred has become profaned and the profane has been sanctified.

There has been a metamorphosis, a transformation of values. What our nation once knew to be right, it will now war against; what it once knew to be wrong, it will celebrate. The Supreme Court of the United States has sanctioned the altering of our values.

Our country is in a spiritual battle. The battle goes way beyond Democrat or Republican.  The bottom line of what is happening in our nation is a matter of good vs. evil, God vs. the devil, truth vs. deception. This battle is real and it is intense. It’s a battle for the heart and soul of our republic, the rise or fall of a nation. We need God back in our nation. God wants us to choose life and blessing, but the CHOICE is ours. A lot will be revealed about our nation and its course with the final result of this election.

I want to leave you today with some portions of God’s Word to us from the book of Deut. Chapt 30. (14) But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.  (15) See, I have set before you TODAY, life and good, death and evil (16) in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments that you may live and multiply and the Lord will bless you in the land. (17) But, if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, (18) I announce to you today that you shall surely perish, you shall not prolong your days in the land. (19) I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.  (20) that you may love the Lord your God and obey His voice that you may cling to Him for He is your life and length of days.”  

There is life and blessing in obeying God’s word.  We as individuals and as a nation must return to God.  It’s a matter of life and death for us individually, and corporately. Second Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  Whose side are you on? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Pastor Steve & Robin Oden
New Life Christian Church
Waukon