A CHRISTIAN NATION?

NOW AND THEN

Friday, April 26, 2019

John 10:1-28 [Jesus explained] … I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by those who are Mine. … they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd. … My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish, and not anyone shall pluck them out of My hand.

  A Christian nation would be made up of followers of Christ; a populace as one flock trusting in and following the guidance of The One True Shepherd. (Jn.10:16 & 27) This does not describe, hasn’t been, or is present character of the USA. It never has been this way as Jesus has not been nor is John 14:6 Way in the USA. (Jn.10:1-28; 14:6)

  The USA is a nation that in its founding days, though not completely was greatly influenced by Christians, Biblical precepts (truth), and Biblically derived concepts (ideas). In the ensuing years since origin the USA has gradually walked or at times ran away from whence we started.   

  (I do personally believe the USA, as was the Jewish nation, was/is of God’s hand, but never past or present made up of all individuals following Him in His fold. Both Biblical and man’s historical accounts clearly show this. However, because of God’s Kingdom among kingdoms, seeing the evidence of God’s hand I believe in Israel and USA exceptionalism among this world’s kingdoms. Mt.6:10; & reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism )

  Though the USA has not and presently does not live by faith as the body of Christ; the church universal and eternal alone has been and continues to be enabled by God the Father to do so. (Jn.1:12; 1Cor.1:18, 24; 2:4-5; Eph.1:19; 6:10; 2Tim1:7; 1Thes.1:5; 1Pet.1:3; there are many more verses that I’m not listing.)

  Now I call upon you to exercise your imagination:

·         Envision the world without USA future influence. If the timelines of history repeat; this nation

also shall pass. (Certainly God could raise up a like replacement, but would He?)

·         Going further, visualize the time when the world will be without Christian influence. There is no

“If” on this, for it shall come to pass: “I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so that we will never die again. … thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile. . . . My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever. Encourage each other with these words.” (CEV 1Cor.15:51-58; 1Thes.4:13-18; also reference http://www.gotquestions.org/rapture.html and http://www.gotquestions.org/Great-Tribulation.html )

  For those lost souls and Christians living outside of the joy of Christ (1Thes.2:19; 1Pet.4:13) the knowledge above is quite likely depressing to consider. It should not be, but should compel seeking God, and be very comforting to those know Him and live accordingly. 

EBB4