Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
We have all been dismayed as we have witnessed hatred, anger, rioting, and destruction sweep across our nation. Tony Perkins wrote, “the abuse of power, disregard for human life, and the wanton destruction and uncontrolled rage we are witnessing in cities across our country, all flow from a society that is rapidly losing a sense of right and wrong, of transcendent truth.” Dr. H.A. Ironside (in 1908) said of Proverbs 14:34: “History is but the perpetual illustration of what is here declared. Nations, like individuals, are judged according to their ways. No country has prospered long that forsook the path of national righteousness. When pride and vanity, coupled with greed and cruelty, have been in the ascendant, the hour of humbling was not far away. Israel will ever be the great object-lesson for all people. When the word of God was esteemed, and his will honored, they prospered. When sin and neglect of God triumphed, they became a reproach.”
If we as a nation continue toward celebrating sin and living as though there is no God, we will reap the fruit of our unrighteousness. We know, as Christians, that healing will not come from one political party or the other. What is at stake in America is whether we have a secular or Judeo-Christian worldview, whether we live our lives in the light of eternity or simply in the here and now. Is there a transcendent God or not? Is there absolute Truth or not? Do we please God or ourselves? It’s not that the election is inconsequential, but we know that the root of our problem is spiritual, not political. We cannot have peace without the Prince of Peace. We cannot have healing without the Healer. We cannot have righteousness without the Righteous One. Jesus, and only Jesus, is the solution to what is dividing our nation.
We all have our preferences of candidates we want to see win the election. However, whichever political party or candidates win the election, the solution to the healing of our nation is that we as Christians live to bring glory to God and to promote righteousness. C.S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity (pg. 36) “We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” Dr. Ben Carson said, “this is a spiritual issue…the real solution is a change of heart of people. And unless [there is a change of heart], it’s all cosmetic. Jesus is the solution to what is dividing our nation.
What we really need is integrity, both as individuals and as a nation. We cannot wait for or depend upon Washington to lead the way in righteousness. We have to live to promote righteousness as Christians. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said that we are to pray that ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Mat 6:10) Our task, as Christians, is to usher in the Kingdom of God to earth through our commitment to walking in integrity. So let’s also set our course to live righteous lives. Righteousness exalts a nation. America will be great again when she is righteous again.