America’s Fall Has Come?

Opening an internet news site today, I was confronted with the headline: “Usain Bolt Caught Grinding Against Young Woman at a Club.” Just below it: “Usain Bolt Shares a Bed with Brazilian Student.” Unfortunately, most people just scroll on down past such articles without giving them a second thought. But, I have to give them some thought because what has become of America is all tied up in those articles.

Think about the fact that just a short time back, the news was filled with stories of Olympian swimmers robbed at gunpoint while in Rio. It wasn’t too long before that all changed and we discovered they had created their own mess by their own bad behavior, partying, drinking, living it up, and then lied about it all. Some people shamed them for their behavior while others had the attitude of: “Oh well, just part of the game! Boys will be boys!” In my heart, I am asking “Why?” What has created such behavior in individuals across America? Why have so many deemed it as acceptable?

Olympians were once the standard-bearers representing their nations in integrity and uprightness, but now some have become party animals overwhelmed by the atmosphere combined with the partying and alcohol creating animal-like behavior within them. What is wrong with this picture? Are you shaken at all by it? Does it trouble you like it does me?

These young athletes are simply products of the free-spirit that has overtaken America. Truth is no longer regarded as truth. People prefer to accept and live out the lies propagated by the evil spirits that have taken control of our nation. Politicians lie and deceive and cover-up and go on—and we simply accept it as the norm. We hold no one accountable when lives are destroyed because of these things. The freedoms we once enjoyed are no longer ours. The few we have left will soon be reasoned away by the liberal-mindedness of Supreme Court justices whose lives have been influenced by evil spirits as well as their own desire to destroy what we once held dear.

Paul warned of this as a part of the last day’s experience. He warned that the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, was standing in the shadows waiting to be revealed in order that he could loose his atrocities upon al civilization. Consider Paul’s warning for a moment: “The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, so that all will be condemned-those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 HCSB).

A strong delusion has overtaken the minds of people across America. The events that took place in Rio by our athletes were simply the result of that delusion. We can blame no one but ourselves for their behavior as we have allowed our nation to be taken over by the evil of liberalism. The destructive nature of this ungodly, evil pattern of thought has slowly eroded away the foundations of our free nation and created the mindset that befell some of the American athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

It is important to recognize what Paul has declared in this passage. America allowed a spiritual delusion to fall upon our nation. It has swept through churches across this nation destroying the minds and hearts of multitudes while at the same time allowing America to fall. Because of this, God has sent an even stronger delusion so that the population as a whole believes the lie.

The news outlets are filled with the lies of the current presidential candidate and America has apparently bought into as “It’s okay!” But, beware of buying into these lie for verse 12 says condemnation from God will fall upon all who have bought into the lies and deception!

Strongly consider the warnings of this Psalm:

Scripture Reading: “I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works. I will rejoice and boast about You; I will sing about Your name, Most High. When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You. For You have upheld my just cause; You are seated on Your throne as a righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations: You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever. The enemy has come to eternal ruin; You have uprooted the cities, and the very memory of them has perished. But the Lord sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for judgment. He judges the world with righteousness; He executes judgment on the peoples with fairness. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Lord. Sing to the Lord, who dwells in Zion; proclaim His deeds among the peoples. For the One who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Be gracious to me, Lord; consider my affliction at the hands of those who hate me. Lift me up from the gates of death, so that I may declare all Your praises. I will rejoice in Your salvation within the gates of Daughter Zion. The nations have fallen into the pit they made; their foot is caught in the net they have concealed. The Lord has revealed Himself; He has executed justice, striking down the wicked by the work of their hands. The wicked will return to Sheol- all the nations that forget God. For the oppressed will not always be forgotten; the hope of the afflicted will not perish forever. Rise up, Lord! Do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence. Put terror in them, Lord; let the nations know they are only men” (Psalm 9 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray first for my own life and the wickedness that I have allowed to enter. Please cleanse my heart and change me—change my perspective on things. Help me to recognize the ungodliness of the world we are living in. Help me to recognize the deception that is overtaking the minds of young and old alike. Help me to see what is happening and to stand up against this evil—to speak out against the evil. Help me to become a standard-bearer of truth in the face of the lies of the enemy. I pray for America! I pray for a holy boldness to overwhelm our pastors and preachers so they will rise up and declare righteousness in their churches, in their cities and in the political arena across this nation. Father, I love You and praise You!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!