PursuingYHWH

Psalm 9:17 (NLT) says, “The wicked will go down to the grave.
    This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.”

The Hebrew word used is Sheol, referring to the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and oblivion where judgment awaits.

I’m no theologian, but we don’t want to go to Sheol. Hell. A dark, scary, terrifying place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. No gracias.

The wicked will go to Sheol, and this is where nations will go that ignore God.

Who are the wicked?

Every person who rejects God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation. Every person who wants to live life there own way – on their own – not wanting God’s will, God’s plan, God’s desires. Every person who says, “I’m not interested, I’m not a bad person, I don’t kill people” fill in the blank.

If a person does not believe in the name of Jesus, does not abide in Jesus, that person is wicked.

News flash – every single one of us is wicked. But disciples of Jesus admit it and seek Him/abide in Him – and Jesus forgives and begins to fix them. That’s the only difference between disciples and everyone else.

Interesting how it reads “ignore God”. Not “uninterested” or “unsure” but ignore.

Ignore is defined as “to refrain from noticing or recognizing.” per Dictionary.com.

To refrain is a verb – to actively do something. Intentionally refrain from noticing.

If a person hears that Jesus loves him/her, that Jesus died and rose again for him/her, and that to be saved that person must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead – and that person discounts any and all of those true statements for whatever reason, this is the person intentionally rejecting the offer of salvation to him/her.

Scary.

The amazing news is that Jesus continues to pursue me, you, and every single person on this earth for as long as each of us is living. He continues to speak to our hearts, calling us to know Him, to trust Him, and to let Him care for us.

Will you respond? Will you at least give Him the opportunity to connect with you?

Will we respond as a country? Will we not ignore but listen to what God is saying to us?

These United States, our country, is a special place. If you disagree, live in – not visit – another country for 6 months. Start with the country that most aligns with your perceived values – i.e. what country that actually lives what you believe to be true.

Our nation is great, not because of the Constitution, capitalism, natural resources, natural land/ocean barriers, water parks, public schools, science, innovation – but because of God. And God alone.

God makes a nation great. Period.

God has blessed these United States with His favor.

If we continue down the path of lawlessness (not abiding by the basic laws established), corruption (people in authority doing wrong for their own benefit), injustice (not punishing wrong behavior), how long will God’s favor be on us?

How long will He allow us to live wickedly without bring disaster on us?

The Bible promises that a nation who ignores God, will go down to Sheol.

Well in the name of Jesus, me, my family and every Jesus loving disciple will fight in prayer and the way we live to honor God, to listen to His voice, and most importantly to obey His commandments of living holy, honorable lives doing what is just, right, and good.

As long as we disciples are living, we will serve the Lord with all that we are.

In the name of Jesus, we will hold the line in honoring, loving, and obeying the Most High who has blessed our country as a beacon of freedom, hope, justice and prosperity.

We will not ignore God. The United States will not ignore God, but we will honor Him. Obey Him. And live for Him.

All glory, credit, and honor belongs to YHWH.

We are His servants, eager to live for Jesus.

Are you?