In God We Trust?

Today is the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States of America. As is the case on this date every year, the talk in America turns to where we were that dreaded day. I was in my high school choir class during the attacks, but my teacher refused to turn on the television. I didn't know about the attacks until I reached my second period keyboarding class. I remember putting my head down on my keyboard as I heard cries and screams coming from the radio, at first thinking it was a prank and then realizing we were under attack.

What I remember more than where I was, is where my country was emotionally and spiritually. Most Americans couldn't even speak we were in such shock. We felt vulnerable and truly frightened for the first time in decades. I watched a surge in national pride, as we rallied together vowing to remain true to the red, white, and blue and "not let the terrorists win." Our then President called on us to help one another and to find solace in our houses of worship-and we did. Americans returned to their churches, cathedrals, and synagogues in droves. Every where you went you heard "God Bless America" and were reminded of our motto, "In God We Trust." Many of my evangelical brothers and sisters held hope high that this would be the "wake up call" our nation needed. We thought maybe this would be the thing that caused our nation to repent of our wicked ways and turn back to God.

We were wrong.

That moment was fleeting. Maybe it was the fatigue of war, or recession, or reignited racial tensions, but our moment of trusting God and turning toward His face seems to have passed. The unity of those days after 9-11 has been replaced with a society that is "us" verses "them" in every way possible. We are a nation of division by: politics, economic status, race, and especially religion. The prayers that went up on 9-12  in courthouses and schools are being banned, our motto that was so hailed on 9-13 is constantly threatened, and the phrase "one nation under God" in the pledge we were so proud of on 9-14 is now considered "religious intolerance".

My fear is that the events of the early 21st century in America was allowed by God to get our attention as a nation, and now that we have squandered it, what will become of us? We have become the modern day Sodom-consumed with our lust for the things of this world and wickedness in the face of God. Not only have we lost our trust in God, we have lost our fear of Him. Everywhere we turn-even in the church- the new catch phrase is "only God can judge me!" Hebrews 10:31 tells us, "It is a terrible thing to fall in the hands of the living God." So even this wish that "only God will judge me" shows our lack of 1. knowledge of scripture and 2. good sense to know that you shouldn't wish the wrath of the all-powerful God on you!

All around us, this very day, bible prophecy is being fulfilled. And yet, in the face of men, women, and children dying at the hand of pestilence, famine, and chemical warfare, our biggest concern is the antics of fame-hungry teenagers stripping down on tv. Jesus's very words in Matthew 24:6-13 are coming to fruition, " 'And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, there will be famines and earthquakes in many part of the world. But all this will only be the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved."

Things are going to get much worse before they get better. We have got to return our trust to God and to God alone.