From the book:
12 Ways You Can Make a Difference in This Crazy, Mixed-up World
Recognize the Dangers Your Country Faces
What should you do when your country trusts in its great military rather than the mighty God? Or it boasts in its great water supply rather than worshiping the Sovereign Lord? Or when the Word of God calls for humble repentance and your nation just wants to “party hardy?” In our distress, the people of God must turn back to God who is our mighty fortress. By humble repentance and persistent prayer, Christ’s followers can make a difference in this mixed-up, crazy world.
Our National Debt
Our national debt shows just how crazy we are. The wise people in our country look at the facts and wonder what is next. Consumer debt is at an all-time high: $17 trillion.[1] The national government debt now stands at $31 trillion[2] (or about $97,000 for every man, woman and child in the U.S.).[3] But instead of tightening the budget belt, our politicians on both sides of the aisle are only planning to spend more. Believe it or not, they are arguing about whether or not to slow down the rate of new debt, not reverse it! This comes at a time when our borders are largely open and the changing morals of our society are weakening our military might. You can see why we might be tempted to quote the prophet, Isaiah, when he asked, “What ails you now…?[4]
A Biblical Parallel
A passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah parallels our situation today and shows us what we must do. Though there are other historic possibilities, the chapter probably refers to the impending invasion of Jerusalem from Assyria. Isaiah wrote,
[The Lord] removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; You also saw the damage to the city of David, that it was great;
And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall. You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.[5]
The Scriptures teach us what to do when we see dangers coming. In the pages of the Old Testament, we can see that the fear of God is the greatest fortress for any nation. But in Isaiah 22, God had begun to remove His hand of protection from Judah. The enemy had already crossed their borders and destroyed many of Judah’s fortified cities. So what did the people of Jerusalem do in the face of this impending invasion? They trusted their weapons, their walls and their water supply and decided to “party hardy!” They did not look to their Maker and Protector. May God help us because our nation is like this today!
Don’t Get Bloated by Our National Blessings
We cannot allow God’s blessings to make us proud. The United States of America has been endowed with remarkable, geographical blessings from above. Any enemy who attacks us from the east or the west will have difficulty maintaining a supply line across a vast ocean. An invading army from the south would need a supply line crossing large desert areas. An intruder from the north would have to contend with mountain ranges in order to resupply an invading force. America is also blessed with the best navigable rivers of any country on earth. Smug with our blessings, our nation has turned its back on God, the Maker of these blessings. Yet we boast in our weapons, our walls and our water supply. Our people have little regard for the God who fashioned all these blessings long ago. Sin has deluded us. By and large, we are a mixed-up, crazy country. We need to repent.
But recent events have caused us to reconsider what we are relying upon. The southern border (even where some walls have been built) is largely open. Our water supply, especially in western states, has fallen upon hard times. Recent attacks have proven that our electrical grid is vulnerable. China has recently set up an intelligence gathering station on Cuba, one hundred miles from our shores.[6]
And though we boast in our technology and weapons, the news of late tells us that other nations have even more of these weapons. There is no doubt that God has blessed our country with amazing technology “invented by skillful men.”[7] But by relying on our military might, we have become like King Uzziah who “… when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God…”[8]
How did the people of Jerusalem respond to the impending invasion? It’s a tragic story. The Lord God of hosts[9] called for the nation to repent by mourning over their sin and calling out to the Lord to save them.[10] Did they respond with national days of mourning, fasting and repentance? No, here was their crazy, indifferent response:
But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat
and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, “Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts.[11]
This is what happens when people live for their nerve-endings instead of what is never-ending. Facing disaster, the people only thought of how to wring the most pleasure out of the moments ahead. And the nation that takes this approach is doomed. Do you recognize your crazy, mixed-up country in the mirror of God’s Word?
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
The Lord desires for His people to be pungent salt and brilliant light in a country that is pursuing its evil desires. The light is most recognizable in deep darkness and that darkness grows deeper with every news cycle. But “salt of the earth people” concentrate on their local situations, even as they watch the national scene. This is the only way that we will see a national change. Overflowing with the blessings of the Beatitudes, you could make a difference.
Yes, by humble repentance and persistent prayer, Christ’s followers can make a difference in this mixed-up, crazy world. Wouldn’t now be the right time to seek the Lord in seasons of persistent prayer? In Judah’s dire situation “…the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and for mourning…”[12] You could make a difference by taking these words to heart 
and crying out to God for your nation. God will hear the prayers of even His most feeble and backslidden children. Remember, God even answered the prayer of Lot when he asked the Lord to spare Zoar. [13] Could we not gather as God’s people to pray, as Abraham prayed for Sodom[14] and Lot prayed for Zoar?
With hearts built up by the blessings of the Beatitudes, our prayers will be heard before God’s mighty throne of grace. As another prophet said (in the face of an impending invasion), “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”[15]
By humble repentance and persistent prayer, Christ’s followers can make a difference in this mixed-up, crazy world. When you sense that your nation is senseless, it’s the right time to follow the Lord’s commands for repentance and prayer. You could be like salt and light in your city and your state. You could make a difference.
[1] “Total Household Debt,”
[2] Chantrill, “What is the Federal Debt?”
[3] There are good indications that the actual numbers are much higher. The figures above do not include unfunded liabilities such as Social Security, nor do they include state and local debt, including pensions.
[4] Isaiah 22:1
[5] Isaiah 22:8-11
[6] Strobel, “Beijing.”
[7] See 2 Chronicles 26:14-15 and the remarkable ingenuity of King Uzziah’s men
[8] 2 Chronicles 26:16
[9] Meaning “The Lord of armies.” This is the “Lord Sabaoth” in Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”
[10] Isaiah 22:12
[11] Isaiah 22:13-14
[12] Isaiah 22:12
[13] Genesis 19:17-22
[14] Genesis 18:16-33
[15] 2 Chronicles 16:9
copyright 2023 Gordon A. Dickson, all rights reserved