We
think in words. For this reason, words have been the most powerful
social force on earth, changing nations, forming cultures, and
dismantling them. Dictionaries help establish the definitions of
words, and a friend sent me this one that had recently been added
to one of America’s foremost word authorities. This is the
definition:
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy)
- a system of government where the least capable to lead are
elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of
society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed are rewarded
with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.
Could
what has been happening in America be said any better? As one
popular social comedian recently observed, “We now have more
people riding in the wagon than we have pulling the wagon.” Very
true, and each day many more are getting in the wagon than are
helping to pull it. It is a tribute to those who are still pulling
that our economy is moving at all, but as this trend continues,
there is a point at which there will not be enough to keep the
wagon moving. We are already at the place where any little hill or
obstacle could stop it.
In
my last Bulletin, I
raised the question about if democracy in America had failed. It
has. It did not have to, and it may yet be recovered, but at this
time it is broken, and our Federal government is bankrupt by any
viable standard. One would think everyone would be declaring this,
telling the emperor the very obvious fact that he doesn’t have
any clothes on, but there is an amazing veil of delusion covering
him up.
Our
government has failed because we did the very things the Founding
Fathers said the Republic could not survive doing. They were right.
We could limp along for a while yet, but economic physics confirm
that the party will soon be over. So what do we do?
First,
we build our lives on the kingdom that can never fail. We do this
by obeying the principles of the coming kingdom. These principles
have been well proven every time to work and not fail. What are
they? How can we implement them now? These are the most important
questions we can be asking at this time.
The
principles of the kingdom are simple, and we will address the
important basics of the kingdom in a coming Bulletin,
but you don’t have to wait for that. You have the same source we
do. We can be, and should be, living in the kingdom right now that
can never be shaken. When the whole world falls apart, those who
have built their lives on the kingdom will not fall apart, but
stand as great lights to the whole world, just as we are promised
in such places as Hebrews 12, Daniel 2, and Isaiah 60.
Preparing
for Collapse
Some
will interpret what I’m saying that I believe the American
Republic is doomed, but that is not the case. Though a collapse of
our currency, and likely our government, is becoming inevitable, we
could yet turn back before going over the precipice. However, “If
you do not change your direction, you will end up where you are
headed,” and that is where we are headed. We should not give up
on the possibility of being spared this tragedy, but at present
we’re not changing our direction, and we’re speeding up as we
get closer to the cliff. Only the most blind or foolish are not
earnestly preparing for the crash.
If
the crash happens, there is still the possibility of recovery.
There also will be a real possibility of chaos and tyranny like
America has never known. This could be permanent, or it could just
be for a time until there is a recovery of order. Then, if we have
learned the lessons and have returned to the Lord to seek His
grace, we could end up better and stronger than ever. The key word
here is “IF.”
At
this writing, there does not seem to be leadership on the horizon
that can turn us back from this pending catastrophe, but one could
be raised up in a day. Even more than leadership, there is
something even more fundamental to restoring the Republic if we are
going to remain a Republic and not fall to the tyranny we are
headed for.
The
Founding Fathers warned that the Republic could only be maintained
by a moral and religious people. They assured us we could not
survive as a Republic with the kind of moral meltdown that we are
now suffering and the departure from a core religious devotion that
we have had. We have not only lost these, but the nation has become
increasingly hostile to those of faith. Without another Great
Awakening, we will not survive as a Republic much longer. The good
news is that there are signs of another Great Awakening coming.
The
Foundations Are Burning
A
couple of years ago, I had a vivid dream of America. In the dream,
America was a log cabin, and every room in the cabin was a
different part of America. I was being taken through it on a guided
tour of each room. As we were going, little fires would break out,
which my guides would just stamp out and continue on as if this was
normal. I was very disturbed by this, so I looked through one of
the holes that had been burned through the floor to see what was
causing the fires. I was astonished to see the entire foundation of
the house on fire. I knew that the entire house was either very
close to collapse or exploding into flames. This is our present
condition, and we do not have much time left.
In
this dream, I wanted to run from the house. I was told not to run
but to grab a hose and put the fire out. This gave me the courage
to think that the fire could yet be put out, and the house could
yet be preserved without total destruction.
In
Scripture, water often represents the Word of God, and this dream
indicates that this is the only thing that can save us. Even as far
as we have drifted from morality and religion, over 90 percent of
Americans still believe in God, and over 65 percent claim to be
born-again Christians. If these are awakened, we could yet survive.
We would still need to do a lot of work to restore what has been
consumed in our foundations, but that would be much better than
losing the entire house with all that is in it.
A
New Day Will Dawn
The
good news is that the kingdom is coming with or without America. It
would be much easier for the whole world for America to remain as a
fortress for freedom such as it has been, but the kingdom will come
regardless.
We
are told that the foundations of the Lord’s throne are
righteousness and justice (see Psalm 89:14). Righteousness is doing
what is right in the sight of the Lord, not man. What is now
“politically correct” is in direct conflict with God’s Word.
In Galatians 1:10, the Apostle Paul said that if he were still
trying to please men, he would not be a bondservant of Christ. The
same is true for us. We must all determine whether we will live to
please the Lord or men. We cannot do both. As the apostle also
affirmed, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to
give an account (see II Corinthians 5:10).
Between
one-third and one-half of the teachings on righteousness in
Scripture are devoted to economics. It was to the degree that
America aligned with the principles that we experienced economic
prosperity. As we have departed from them, the shaking began and
will continue until we either realign with them or collapse. While
we were aligned, we were the greatest creditor nation in history.
As soon as we turned from the basic principles of biblical
righteousness, we went into debt and we now have the biggest debt
in the history of the world. The Scriptures are true, and they are
always true.
The
kingdom will come either way, and it will bring the whole world
into alignment to what is right and works best for everyone.
Justice must work with righteousness because it is not right if it
does not treat everyone fairly, with everyone playing by the same
rules.
Our
economic shaking began because we got out of alignment with what is
right and just on both ends—at the top and at the bottom. This is
what the Founders warned about. They fear both the tyranny of a
king (the top) and the tyranny of the mob (the bottom), and set up
firewalls to keep both of these in check. When these firewalls were
torn down, the inevitable shaking began.
The
Founders were not so brilliant in their architecture of the new
government because they foresaw the modern economic system that has
evolved, but because they knew basic human nature that is the same
today as it was in their times. The Founders had a remarkable
insight into the sources of tyranny from the top or the bottom of
society. They had been subjected to the oppression of King George
and had witnessed the horrors of mob that fueled The French
Revolution.
The
kingdom is coming because the King is going to come. He is both
righteous and just. As the Scriptures affirm, He is not just going
to restore righteous and just government throughout the earth. He
is going to restore the earth to the paradise it was originally
created to be so that even the lion will lie down with the lambs,
and children will be able to play with cobras, and no one will hurt
anyone else. We have been given a hope that is greater than any
other religion or philosophy every conceived, and it is a sure hope
that will surely come to pass.
When
we begin to see the kingdom, it is very hard not to be bored with
everything going on in the earth. However, we must get engaged to
be faithful to our calling, to be salt and light in this world, and
to help prepare the way for the Lord and His coming kingdom.
Nothing
in the whole creation will ever be as interesting as the Creator,
and nothing in this world will ever be as interesting as His
kingdom, but we have a duty. He so cares about this world that He
has declared that He is going to make His home on earth and dwell
on earth among men. Just thinking about this makes it hard to think
about anything else, but we do have work to do to prepare for Him.
In Matthew 6:31-34, the King gave us some important instructions:
“Do
not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or 'What
shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’
“For
all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly
Father knows that you need all these things.
“But
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things
shall be added to you.
“Therefore
do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for
itself.”
We
must be resolved to seek the kingdom first. He promises that if we
will do this, everything else will be taken care of. Anxiety is a
desperate enemy of those who are called to walk by faith, not by
fear. Those who are building their lives on His kingdom have the
peace of God, which the world cannot even comprehend.
Never
lose your peace. After the election last year, a terrible anxiety
came upon many Christians. We must never let this happen again. The
Prince of Peace will never lead us with anxiety, so anything we do
out of anxiety will not be right. The only word I was given after
the election was Psalm 37. It is a remarkable message about this.
Read it and be comforted, and resolve that you will never let
anything steal your peace.
Do
not fret (worry,
be anxious) because
of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For
they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green
herb.
Trust
in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate
faithfulness.
Delight
yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your
heart.
Commit
your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He
will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment
as the noonday.
Rest
in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him
who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked
schemes.
Cease
from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret, it
leads only
to evildoing.
For
evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they
will inherit the land.
Yet
a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will
look carefully for his place, and he will not be there.
But
the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in
abundant prosperity.
The
wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his
teeth.
The
Lord laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming.
The
wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the
afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in conduct.
Their
sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.
Better
is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.
For
the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord sustains the
righteous.
The
Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be
forever.
They
will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine
they will have abundance.
But
the wicked will perish; and the enemies of the Lord will be like
the glory of the pastures, they vanish—like smoke they vanish
away.
The
wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious
and gives.
For
those blessed by Him will inherit the land, but those cursed by Him
will be cut off.
The
steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his
way.
When
he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the
One who holds his hand.
I
have been young, and now I am old, yet I have not seen the
righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.
All
day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a
blessing.
Depart
from evil and do good, so you will abide forever.
For
the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His godly ones; they
are preserved forever; but the descendants of the wicked will be
cut off.
The
righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
The
mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks
justice.
The
law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
The
wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him.
The
Lord will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he
is judged.
Wait
for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the
land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I
have seen a wicked, violent man spreading himself like a luxuriant
tree in its native soil.
Then
he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought for him, but he
could not be found.
Mark
the blameless man, and behold the upright; for the man of peace
will have a posterity.
But
transgressors will be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the
wicked will be cut off.
But
the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He
is their strength in time of trouble.
The
Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the
wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in
Him.