Candidate of the Apocalypse: Epilogue

May, 2037

Days were getting longer and Summer was rapidly approaching.  This would be the last school day before break. Starting tomorrow his students would be helping with various projects, from farms to construction, to various scientific endeavors.  

Recovery had been slow for the first few years after the Great Darkness ended, Now, the town was buzzing with activity. While there were many small projects in the works, the townspeople had gotten together and agreed on a couple of large scale initiatives which would be beneficial for all. One of them involved repurposing old internal combustion engines and putting them together with electric motors to generate electricity. Not for the town just yet. New infrastructure was needed. Teacher’s knowledge of mechanics and engineering helped. He was working with a team of men  with the goal of distilling alcohol to use as fuel. There were no gas stations anymore. All the refineries had been destroyed, along with much of the highway network. But that was being remedied bit by bit, and one day these things would be rebuilt. A couple of enterprising men had found a ham radio set and restored it to working condition. Once a month they would fire it up and exchange news with other operators. If the reports were true big things were on the horizon. 

Teacher was on the edge of that change, believing that education of the town’s young would give them a head start when directing the course of this new world. His students would soon be leaders, and he was pleased with their progress. But there was one final lesson to deliver. 

October 16, 2012  Past

It was three weeks before the election and polls were still too close to call.  Charles was ahead in the majority of states of his own party, and more or less even in those held by the other one. Over the last few weeks of the campaign his message had been taking hold among voters and he had made genuine gains in the most contested states. States necessary for him to get the electoral votes needed to win. 

He was in Birmingham, Alabama enjoying the accolades of an overflow crowd. After speaking on his tax plan, he opened up for questions. The first came from a known operative of the other party. 

“A number of economists have criticized your tax plan, saying it will result in a net loss of income for the government, and increase the current deficits. What do you say?”

Charles had a ready reply: “Really? They don’t think that if people take home more money they’re not going to be better off? Your sources are wrong. First of all, the plan I propose has already been demonstrated to be viable. About $20 million has been spent researching it and its positive effect on the economy. Not to mention that this legislation, if passed, would be the greatest transfer of power from government to the people in history.  Second, remember that last year was record breaking in terms of government revenue. Yet we still have huge deficits! The issue at hand is not revenue! It’s spending! Any tax plan, no matter how effective will be of no use if the largesse of federal programs are not curtailed. That’s why mine involves both elements and both must be put in play to engender true change.” 

Many of those present said Charles was at his best on that day. Not all, however.

On this day a man, who has never been identified, slipped past security and quietly retrieved a weapon that had been hidden just for him. Throughout the question and answer period he had been working his way closer to the front. When Charles had answered the last question and returned to the stage, he saw his chance. He made a silent prayer to his god, pulled out the gun and started shooting.  

May, 2037

With that the teacher stopped and tears came into his eyes. He couldn’t breathe. His heart felt like it would explode in his chest. For a few moments he was speechless, and the class was quiet. 

Finally one stirred, “What happened after that?” She asked quietly. 

Just then the bell sounded. School was out for the summer, but no one moved. 

“If you will allow me one final lesson before I tell you the end of the story, and let you free. You will not need this information until far into the future, but I know you have long memories, and at the appropriate time, you will make good use of it.

“First, a question. What is evil?”

 

His charges looked at each other. Maybe this was a trick question. Then they turned as a student in the back stood. His name was Ethan and he was the youngest in the class. He had already read every book in town. He never forgot anything. 

“Evil:” he said, “Adverb. Morally reprehensible, sinful, wicked. An evil impulse. Arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct.” 

“Thank you, Ethan,” said Teacher. “That is the dictionary definition, but I am going to give you another, a practical definition. In order to do so, I must present another question. Which is stronger?  Good, or evil? Or are they the same?” The class remained silent. Teacher did not wait long. 

“This is primarily a rhetorical question, and therefore I didn’t expect a ready answer. Good is much stronger than evil. How do I know this? Because evil people always have to force their will on others physically. It is not just evil individuals who will do this, an entity can do the same thing. I will expand that to say, any entity that attempts to force their will on you physically is evil, or ultimately comes to evil. 

“And what does that have to do with government? It’s the fact that governments are formed by agreements between groups of people, or by force. But the cold hard reality is that governments do not and cannot pay for themselves. That’s why they only survive by taxing the general populace. Over time governmental officials develop a worldview based on some idea of self importance. They must do this to justify their own continued existence. You should know that in the history of the world no government has ever been able to resist the urge to magnify its own importance and cause harm to the very class that authorized its power in the first place. 

This is why every government, no matter how good and praiseworthy its original adherents were, tends to evil, and all have demonstrably failed. The future day will come when you will have to decide the type of government to have for you and your children. 

It is always wise to put safeguards in place that guarantee your protection from government. Not to mention other protections to ensure government accountability and transparency.  May this quote come to mind when that day comes: “The constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” 

“Please, remember this always.”

And then Teacher, bowed his head. “You want to know the end result of that awful day? Charles was hit three times, his campaign manager was wounded in the shoulder and hip. A security guard, who jumped between the gunman and Charles, was killed. The gunman himself was shot by security. Charles didn’t make it. The first shot severed his aorta, and he bled out in seconds.”

“What happened with the election?”

“The President declared a state of emergency and cancelled the election. A few weeks later he declared himself to be the winner and told the country he would rule for another four years. This didn’t set well with the populace and they organized a protest. Some 5 million people descended on Washington. Things went bad and for the first time since the Civil War, American forces were ordered to fire on their fellow citizens. Insurrection broke out. Martial law was declared. Three weeks later that which we are forbidden to discuss began. And now you know a little of the last days of our history. It appears that a kind of madness overtook those of a certain party. They were incapable of rational thought, and evil, for the moment, triumphed.” 

Curious, one of his other students asked. “How is it that you know so much about these events?” 

Teacher stared at her for a few moments, tears still in his eyes. “Because I… I was his campaign manager.”

With that his students rose, gathered around him to show their sympathy and support. After a long moment his students filed out, shouting their thanks and goodbyes as they went. 

Teacher was now alone. He cleaned off the blackboard, gathered his few things and exited, limping slowly up the hill to his home. 

The Compelling Nature of Good Writing

    Creating a novel is an emotional endeavor. It runs the gambit from love to hate, joy to despair and hope to despondency. Some days I thoroughly enjoy writing. Other days I loathe it. There are those times when the story comes naturally and freely, but most days when I sit down to write it is little more than work. 

What is especially frustrating is when I'm driving somewhere and thinking about a particular scene from the story. In my mind everything is as it should be, the timing is perfect, and the words my characters use defy description. But then, when I get back to my place to write that scene, it disappears in a puff of smoke. My, the dirty tricks your mind can play on you! 

On those days when the muse is not present I will, in desperation, write anything. I'll shut my eyes, pay no attention to spelling or punctuation and put down any and every thought that comes to mind, no matter how absurd or off topic. The hope is to get the juices flowing so I can continue the story. More often than not, the exercise will open me up to more writing, even if it’s just a few sentences. 

What really fascinates me about the writing art is the connection I make with characters. This is equally true when I read. How is it that I can look at a flat, two dimensional piece of paper with abstract figures on it, known as letters, and see they are grouped together in various ways to form words, and from these words I get pictures, ideas and all kinds of information? It’s sort of magical, isn’t it? Through the magic of the written word I can be drawn to characters who have never existed in the world of the living. 

As I read, my imagination follows right along. I create mental pictures of what the characters look like, smile when they are happy, worry about their heartaches, and even though I’ll never admit it in public, shed a tear for them when tragedy strikes. The same is true of my own creations as well. That’s the kind of sway a good story holds. Writing takes me to places known and unknown, it explores the complex depths of motivations, and truth, harsh as it might be, or freeing, to the deepest depths or soaring heights. 

Maybe it is an escape, but what a thrilling one!

There are a few books I read over and over. I do not see this as a character flaw as some do. To me it is like visiting a favorite place, a particular beach, or mountain, for example, or any place that delights and amazes me. In my mind the fictional places are (almost) as real. I revel in the gentle humor of Samuel Clemens, and smile at the antics of Tom trying to impress Becky Thatcher. I snicker at his various tricks, as with whitewashing the fence, or when he proudly presents himself as a scholar in Sunday School. I thrill to the visuals in Lord of the Rings, as I note the simple honesty of the shire and compare that with the greatness, hidden at first, in Aragorn, and see the relentless pursuit of the dark forces against Frodo. I too am amazed at the magnificence and perfection of the elves, and the oddity of the various creatures they meet along the way. I follow the sweep of the story as the intrepid hunters cross the sea-like plains of Rohan in that desperate race, only to meet many more surprises, and eagerly await the final scenes. I am fully engaged all the way to that last, compelling sentence. To be perfectly honest, I am a little disappointed when I have to put the book down. 

Through reading I’ve been to the top of Everest, the bottom of the seas, hunted for gold in the wild country of Alaska, travelled to Mars, Venus, and other galaxies. I’ve been swept along with missionaries in Burma and other little known places, slept beside Paul in prison, and watched as he addressed kings and other notables from history. I’ve seen how the fledgling continental navy put their faith in a young shipbuilding Quaker, of all people, to design ships that would ultimately defeat the mighty, and supposed invincible ships of the line that ruled the high seas. 

Reading allows me to vicariously live multiple lifetimes through the experiences of others. It has been, and will continue to be, quite a ride! And, to think, what a joy it is to have become a small part of that community of writers. 

Let's create some magic today. 

Follow the Motivations!

 We have two passages of scripture for consideration today. Both are from Matthew chapter 6: 

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (ESV)

Jesus is speaking here. This is a continuation of his Sermon on the Mount, which began in the previous chapter. In the sermon, he lays out the attitudes of those who would work to further the kingdom of God. The focus of his statements is straightforward. Anyone can grasp their meaning. Life here on earth is physical and temporary. Life in heaven is forever. Let’s face it, this body must fall away at some point. Our souls, which are immortal, will ultimately reside in one of two places. Heaven or Hell. Those who serve God are admonished to maintain an attitude that is geared primarily toward that eternal future, not the temporary one. 

The same attitude must prevail when we consider money and riches. It is a far better thing to work for treasures that do not go away. Contrast that with those who gather wealth for themselves, then die. What happens to those riches? Are they of any help in the life beyond? No. Physical accoutrements, like our bodies, must remain earth-bound. Jesus put it this way: “Their reward is with them.” He was speaking of those who strive only for riches, and the praise of men. Sure, they get their reward. Now. But that’s as far as it goes. His conclusion is: “You cannot serve God and money.” How can someone claim to be a follower of Christ when their thoughts are constantly geared toward some form of financial remuneration? Divided allegiances do not work. 

The point is that Jesus wants us to evaluate ourselves to make sure our allegiance and motivation is in the right place. 

Jesus’ message was successful. His disciples and the early Christians were stalwart in their courage and dedication. From the disciples, when they were brought before the Sanhedrin saying, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” to Stephen and onward to Paul and the succeeding generations, Christianity has been characterized by people of great integrity and character. Christians of the past, and those of the present as well, are internally motivated to do his will because they are convinced by the truthfulness of Jesus’ words, His life and His resurrection. 

The question I want to ask, and hopefully try to answer is this: Do Jesus’ statements apply only to the spiritual realm and Christian ministry, or might they have other applications too? The answer is an enthusiastic yes! What are the hallmarks of any great society?  Emphasis on truth and honesty. Faithfulness, peacefulness and forgiveness and all the other qualities engendered by a love for scripture. Any culture that wishes to achieve great things must have citizens of the same kind of character and responsibility. 

What about politics? Particularly, American politics. Historically we have had men of courage, discipline and character to lead our country. Often these same men sacrificed their own fortunes and future because of their commitment to something greater than themselves. They enshrined their beliefs in what are the two greatest documents outside of the Holy Scriptures created by man. The Declaration, and the Constitution. Every senator who is elected to office must take this oath: 

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God. 

Every government official must go on record that they are willing to put our nation and its laws above their own personal ambitions and gain. That is what the great men of the past have done. That is not necessarily true today. How low have our elected representatives fallen! Especially when they raise their hands and recite what to them are mere words, and then work incessantly against the very Document they have sworn to uphold. Take a look at the current set of politicians who want your vote. Ask yourself if they are willing to fight and die for that Document that is above them in all respects. Ask yourself if they are willing to deny themselves in order to uphold those same strictures. Find out if they are more concerned with maintaining the integrity of that law for future generations, or if they are lying, and working to use the power of their office to line their own pockets with money from various intrigues and influence peddling. That is illegal by the way. I’m not talking about a little cash here and there, I’m talking about millions and millions of dollars.

If a politician, particularly one who is vying for the highest office in the land, is just in it for himself, do you honestly think he will work what is best for you? Do you think he will consider your rights and freedoms above his own? Of course not! This man is not worthy to become President of the United States. The incumbent he is running against, it turns out, has sacrificed much to stand against the party of anarchy, riots, lawlessness and endless sniping. Let us support him. Let us work to un-elect those who are against him, and all who are of the party that would feign to serve you, but are actually in it for themselves. 

Vote for the future, not the now. 

What About the Issues?

Let’s start today with a passage of scripture. 

Proverbs 1:20  Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;  

21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (ESV)

Today we will discuss issues. What about all those political ads we are bombarded with on tv? Should we give any regard to them?  The short answer is: No! Many of the ads are outright lies. The rest may or may not contain actual truth. So don’t pay attention to them! They are meant to confuse you enough to vote their way. Personally, I keep my remote handy, and hit the ‘mute’ button whenever these ads come on. 

For this election there is only one issue. 

Take a quick look around the country. Think about which states are having the most problems right now. Look at the ones who don’t have enough electricity, the ones who are burning from riots and civil unrest, the ones who have repressive and arbitrary lockdown restrictions. It is these very same states which are supposed to be the most enlightened, have the most concern about the environment, and are, ideally, the least racist. If their states are so great, why are they having all these problems? Why are people leaving them in droves? Something doesn’t add up. 

“….Wisdom cries in the streets….”

The fact is, in these states, the Democrat representatives have worked to put in place a socialistic agenda that is the antithesis of everything our forefathers fought and died for. They are attempting to rewrite our history under their own terms to minimize, or discount entirely the great heritage we are heirs to. Our forefathers were not perfect, that is true. The present crop of Democrat politicians are less so, for they are both hypocrites and liars. They hinder legislation designed to help Americans in this time of pandemic, and then scream and whine at the President for going around them via executive order.  They plot behind the scenes to destroy his Presidency, then use their own operatives in the courts to obstruct investigators trying to get to the truth. That’s not all they have done. Were I to enumerate all their crimes, the hours would seem like days! I hope that, by now, most of their ineptitudes are common knowledge. 

We can easily see it is the Democrats who are the ‘simple ones’ mentioned in the Proverb above. They have little to offer, except empty promises and the desire for raw power. (For themselves, not you.) Their policies convey no hope, for, as everyone knows, socialism is a dead-end system of economics. There is no room in their agenda for individual thought or respect for people, only categorization and polarization of victims, as in race, feminism, repressed, displaced, and so on. 

The issue at stake in this election can be expressed in one word. Liberty. Do you want to remain free? Do you want a nation that will continue to be ‘of the people, by the people and for the people?’ Do you want the Bill of Rights to remain in place, with all its protections against government incursions into your life? To do so means we must overwhelmingly vote against the Democrat party at every level. Upon our nation’s founding we fought a war to secure our independence. In a few days we will fight at the ballot box to secure a future for our children.

They are strong, they are well financed, and they have the support of just about every media outlet. But guess what? The election will not be decided by them. It will be decided by you, for you are the same rational, law-loving, patriotic Americans who go to work every day, worship at their local church, and raise their children to be decent, God-fearing adults. And, oh, yea, you vote, too. In case you didn’t know, (for Christians are never considered in the national media), we outnumber them! 

“...How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing….” 

If we, as Christians, unleash our power at the polls. Their scoffing will end on November 3rd. 

Rise and be counted! I plan on doing just that. Will you join me?

The Sovereignty of the Individual

     God always has an order of priorities when dealing with man. Likewise, he sets priorities in dealing with nations, too. That means every nation should do the same. 

    What are the national priorities for the United States of America? Those priorities are easily lost amidst the smoke and mirrors, claims and counter-claims, and back and forth sniping between candidates at every level as we approach this election. 

    But, it turns out the founders of our country not only had them, but laid them out clearly for everyone to see. First, from the Declaration of Independence: 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” 

    Jefferson’s priorities for the new nation look like this:  

    First, and foremost. God. He is the Creator. He is the guarantor and giver of those unalienable Rights, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Thus He stands as the top priority of our nation, and is the only Power worthy of our worship.

    Second. God’s highest creation. Man. It is man who was given volition, a body and a mind. Thus he can use those facilities to work and make a life for himself and his family. Man cannot exist for very long in an environment where there is no right or wrong. He is at his best when he, as an agent of free will, voluntarily chooses to serve God, for that produces the longest lasting, and most stable family structure, and stable families make for a stable society. 

    Third. Government. Hence the phrase “...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Government ranks below the individual in the order of priorities. 

    Now we see that our system was in fact, unique among all other nations in history. For none of them were founded as we were.

    What about the Constitution? Does it carry similar priorities? Let’s see: 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

    In the very first sentence of the First Amendment is codified that priority. What does it mean? A couple of things. That the United States will never establish a national church, neither will it hinder the free expression of Christianity. 

    Now I am going to state this priority in my own words. 

    The individual doing the will of God is superior to the state. Likewise, churches which  preach the gospel and train their members to be Christian leaders are superior to the state. Why is this? Because ultimately we are eternal beings, and one day this physical body will fall away, but our souls will go on forever. Our nation will not. It is temporary and earth-bound. By allowing the church free reign, the citizens of this nation would continually be reminded of that fact, and act accordingly. Our national character is distinctively Christian. Our Founders understood this, and saw firsthand the results of a thriving and influential church. They also had keen insight into human nature, especially in terms of government. In constructing our first amendment this way, the Founders were taking a preventative measure to curtail the federal government from unbridled excess, as they had just experienced with the king of England. Extricating themselves from George’s arbitrary use of power cost them many lives and much bloodshed. 

    All other rights fall from this one. Think about it. Why do we have freedom of speech and the press? So people can proclaim their faith from one generation to the next. Why freedom of assembly? Because Christians are commanded to meet. But then, if Christians are allowed to meet, then why shouldn’t everyone be allowed to do the same? People who frequent a business are meeting, aren’t they? As are those eating at a restaurant. I’m talking about peaceful gatherings here. Riots are not meetings, they are criminal activities. Why are we guaranteed the right to redress the government? To keep that same government in check, lest it continually overstep its bounds and misuse its power. 

    Their vision was based on a profound truth. When people are better the nation gets stronger. Don’t let anyone fool you! We are not strong because of our military, or our technology, or our highway system, our economics, or anything else, other than the strength of our character.  That character was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus on the Cross. 

    As we think about the upcoming election, let us weigh the candidates in the scales presented by our founding documents. What are their beliefs concerning God? Do they rightly place Him above all? Do they act according to His will? What about their attitude toward you? The citizen? Are they working to increase your freedoms? Or hinder them? Or remove them altogether? Last of all, do they consider themselves to be superior to you? Or do they put you and your first amendment rights above them? Pick the candidate who best fulfills these criteria, not the one who makes the biggest promises.

They Loved Darkness Rather Than Light

Today we will discuss motive. Every action people take, and every reaction to that action by others, is driven, often unconsciously, by some sort of motive. For many people, and in most situations these motives are benign.  Take a buyer and seller at the marketplace. Each of them has a desire. The seller, to maximize profits, and the buyer, to minimize expenditures. The agreed upon price is that which meets both criteria. If such cannot be achieved, either party is free to walk away. 

In criminal cases the prosecution is under a mandate to provide motive for the defendant’s behavior, otherwise the case will fall apart. Means as well. Motive and means will ultimately be the criteria by which the jury will determine guilt or innocence. In a court trial it is extremely rare for a defendant to give their motives for a particular crime. If they were to do so, it would incriminate them. So they will try to mask that motive for as long as possible. Why do you think so many crimes are committed at night? Fewer people are awake, or around to see. 

John 3: 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (ESV)

The same is true on the state and national stage. As they say, “Nothing happens by accident in politics.” Every action taken, every motion, every rule, every regulation, and every tax is driven by some internal motive the politicians do not want to make clear, otherwise they will be booted out of office. 

There are a couple of ways that those in politics can prevent their activities from seeing the light of day. One is a straight cover up. Deny, deny deny, and hope it goes away. Another would be to apply smoke and mirrors to the situation. Actively create disturbances in other areas to keep the spotlight off them.  

Now we come to the current political situation. Many will call it ‘divisive’and ‘unproductive’ because the rifts between our national parties could not be any greater. There is, in my opinion, a reason for that. The problem is almost completely on one side of the aisle. I believe I know the reason and motive. 

In the run up to the last election we have the incompetent heir apparent to the party of the Democrats set against a scrappy, non politician businessman. Sometime during the election year, and continuing after, rumors of ‘Russian interference’ started. This ‘scandal’ was endlessly promoted against the scrappy businessman, who won the election. Shortly thereafter, impeachment proceedings began. Was there any ‘Russian collusion’? No. The charges were a complete fabrication. We have not yet heard the end of it all yet. Some indictments have already been handed down, but more information surfaces every day. A few people, more knowledgeable than myself, have written books on the subject. It is the most scandalous raw grab for power in our nation’s history.  This was, in fact, a coup attempt. It was conceived, planned and implemented at the highest levels of the previous administration, and carried out by their minions in various intelligence services. This, my friends, is Treason. 

Can you not see why the Democrats have gone full in for socialism and communism? Can you now see why they let their cities burn and do nothing? When they could? Can you also understand why they are going in all the way with mail in ballots? The plan is to so obfuscate the results, they can continue down the path they are on. They have already stated they will not accept the results if Trump wins. They can't! If they lose, the indictments will continue, and a number of them will face prison time, or worse. We all know the penalty for treason, don’t we? Their actions are so reprehensible that they are past the point of no return, so they cannot do anything but continue. If they win, then all their crimes will be swept under the carpet and go away. 

But, if they win something else goes away along with it. Our country. The Democrats have already demonstrated absolutely no regard for our constitution and the rights it accords. They have shown a willingness to pursue  and encourage violence against the very citizens they were commissioned to protect. Their cities are smoking heaps, with hundreds of millions of dollars of damage, livelihoods destroyed and people dead on the streets. And what do they do? They arrest a few and then let them go, to commit crimes the very next night. Then they call on the police chiefs and ask why crime is so high in their cities! The gall! The pride and arrogance of this party is beyond belief. 

So why do we allow them to continue in power? 

As Christians living in this nation today, we have a unique ability, no, a responsibility to be active in politics. It is we who have the answer, not them. Against their pride we present humility. Against violence, we hold strength of character and common decency. Against their grab for power, we present law and due process. Against their screeching and mindless wailing, we hold up Truth.  

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world!’

It’s time to let our light shine too. 

Christians! The fate of the nation is in your hands!

Is History Cyclical?

    Let us begin this discussion with a few quotes: 

    -He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

    -He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

    -For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

    -For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

    -He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

    -He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

    -He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us,...is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

    Sound familiar? They should.

    The above words were written some two hundred forty six years ago by Thomas Jefferson to enumerate crimes committed by King George against the colonies. They could have also been written just yesterday to describe the crimes committed by one of our own political parties against us. We have come full circle. Does that mean the adage is true, “History repeats itself?” And if that is the case, does it mean we are at the end of our nation’s greatness and our fall is imminent? Must we acquiesce to the current trends and denigrate ourselves to a post-history decline? Must we, as that party insists, become a socialist third world country with no defining morality or ideals except the arbitrary and capricious use of government power? 

    Let me counter the above comments with a couple of scriptures. 

    John 29:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (ESV)

    Revelation 10:6,7 And swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (ESV)

    These two passages tell us that a certain part of history is not cyclical. First, the magnificent plan of salvation was completed by Jesus on the cross. That means we are no longer slaves to sin and alienated from God. It means we can enjoy a right relationship with Him, and, it follows, that we can enjoy a right relationship with each other.

    The verse in Revelation demonstrates an ultimate end to history, that will be brought about by God Himself. God began history with creation. He will end it at some point in the future.

    We also understand that a part of history is cyclical. I am speaking of those who have rejected the sovereignty of God. These people repeat themselves over and over. Why is that? Because tyrants and criminals only know how to do one thing, steal, destroy and murder. "....The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy...." One thing is painfully clear. lawbreakers and miscreants will never build a stable, let alone a great, society.

    By way of contrast we will now consider those who know and serve God. They have an understanding of law, and work to achieve a certain end. That end is to live in peace with those around them, and raise their children to be men and women of faith. Often they will sacrifice their own potential wealth and ambitions for their children's sake. Christians take the long view, preferring to invest in future generations rather than leave them to the whims of popular thought and crowd mentality.

    Christian history, it turns out, is linear. It does not repeat, for every generation brings us closer to the point of Christ's return and the ultimate fulfillment of that event so eloquently described by John in the book of Revelation.

    What about us today? The success of our nation came about because it was built around two foundations. One of them is our body of laws. The Constitution. The other is the Holy Scriptures, which carry the moral imperatives for the freedoms we enjoy. Take away either of those foundations and the edifice falls, to the ruin of all.

 

    Let me ask my original question again. Is this the end? Must we fail as a nation? No! Our demise is not a foregone conclusion. We will remain free if we continue to stand for law, and the freedoms it guarantees us. We will remain free if the Gospel is allowed to be preached unhindered in our churches.

    As long as both foundations remain strong, our nation will continue.