We need to let the foresight of the Bible inform us of our world view, lest we admire or become too affectioned for the world.

Our understanding of the last days, and our posturing with them, must be developed from God’s Word alone. Otherwise, we may be attracted to the “stones” that construct our society, rather than the forces that will cast them down.

Our beloved country, once stalwart and strong, is now reeling with wounds, bruises, and putrefying corruption, from the sole of the foot even to the head. We desperately need the power of the Great Physician, which can only come by way of repentance and putting away the evil of our doings.

Our country was never totally spiritually whole, but it was never sin sick as it is today. There is little sound left, if any, of the breathing of morally fresh air, or the beating of a God fearing heart. “In God We Trust” is hardly the confidence of the many, but still regarded by an ever diminishing few.

It has been said:
*Solving our national debt will not solve our national problem.
*Solving our high unemployment rate will not solve our national problem.
*Solving the health insurance woes of the millions will not solve our national problem.
*Solving the poverty issues of the needy will not solve our national problem.
*Solving our foreign policy will not solve our national problem.
*Solving our immigration challenges will not solve our national problem.

Yes, these are all critically important issues that must be undertaken diligently. But these are effects, not the cause, of our national crisis. These all testify to the fact that we have not only left God out of the equation, but we as a nation have multiplied our sins against Him, unto our own confusion and corruption.

As a society, we must reverse our move away from God, restore our values unto the principles of His Word, seeking God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace, looking unto Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Apart from this, our nation will just be swallowed up in the spirit of anti-Christ, with nothing but tribulation, anguish, indignation, and wrath in store.

“…and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority”
“And all the world wondered after the beast”
“And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?”
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” Revelation 13

When I was young, it was almost inconceivable to understand how that anyone as evil and blasphemous as the anti-Christ (beast) could ever come to power as leader of the nations! It seemed as though it could only happen through some great mistake that he would gain such power to the anguish of the masses he would enslave.

But in my lifetime, I have come to realize just what the Bible says, and that is the beast will come to office because the world will celebrate his anti-christ positions. He will be the man of the hour. He will be viewed as the man of true vision. He will be credentialed as the wisest and most able of all. He will be able to bring the world to the grand conclusion that it must reject all the claims of God’s Word and eliminate all who hold to its tenants.

Worldly principalities and powers have already agreed in their denial of God’s Word. They just await the ‘one’ who can implement it into policy. Consider: Steven Weinberg, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979, had this to say: “…the world needs to wake up from its long nightmare of religious belief.” Harold Kroto, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996: “…called for the John Templeton Foundation to give its next $1.5 million prize for ‘progress in spiritual discoveries’ to atheist Richard Dawkins, author of the book, “The God Delusion.” Dawkins prefaces his book by stating his definition of ‘delusion’: “a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence, especially as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.” Dawkins received some of this sentiment from Robert Pirsig, who said, “…when one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from delusion it is called Religion.” Dawkins’ theory on religious education is “brainwashing” and “child abuse.”

Along with the belief of evolution, and the exclusion of prayer and God’s Word as public offenders, we see that anti-christism has conquered and is going forth to conquer.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18

The truth of liberty, as intended and set forth by our founding fathers, who framed our constitution and form of government, is now being held in unrighteousness. They underscored the absolute need for God fearing integrity = “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle” = “a fundamental truth that establishes right position and governs right action.”

Liberty with integrity produces a just and safe society. The exercise of liberty without integrity is the broad road to destruction. Today, society has chosen liberty without integrity. Millions of innocent, unborn human beings are being murdered as it is the “right” of the mother to do so. Moral perversion is marching in the streets, while holding hostage our branches of government in the name of “civil rights”.

Those who have cast off the laws of the Lord demand absolute tolerance for themselves from others, while remaining intolerant of all who do not agree with them.

As it was in the days of Lot (Genesis 19), the sodomites demanded of Lot to give into their way of life, while refusing to respect his home or his position. Sodom was all about liberty without integrity, and God destroyed them.

As it was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6), society was defined by every imagination of their thoughts, which was evil continually. As a result, corruption and violence prevailed over their society and God destroyed them.

By God’s grace, both Noah and Lot were delivered, but with their own faith, or lack thereof, deciding their personal experiences.

Jesus told us these same conditions would prevail in the last days of the Gentile age. Though they are sickening and detestable, they must be faced with the same faith as Noah’s, rather than seeking to pacify the wicked with the fearfulness of Lot.

Just as Noah was a bright light in his day, so we are to be in ours. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward for faithfulness in standing up to the challenge. For our faith to have the “stuff” to be able to overcome all, we must first love God above all.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
“…thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” Psalm 50:21
“…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” Luke 9:23

The power of positive thinking is to be filled with self, whereas faith is to be emptied of self to be yielded to Christ.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5a Corinth had an abundance of positive thinkers, who were short on faith. Thus, they were confident that what they thought and felt was right, no matter who or what didn’t agree. They were self assured to the point that they concluded that anyone they had a problem with, that the fault just had to be with the other party.

All false religion is based on the “power” of positive thinking. They do not examine themselves in light of the truth, but rather assert themselves in spite of the truth. They deceive themselves with their trust in their own righteousness. They justify themselves with what is right in their own eyes.

When God’s people resort to the “power” of their own way of thinking, that “power” affords them a mindset for spiritual failure. Peter set himself up to be sifted by the devil, with the powerful thoughts of his own correctness. The power of positive thinking creates works after the flesh. Ishmael came into being on the basis of thinking positive about what one could enact on their own, rather than waiting upon the Lord.

A person can project themselves to be and do anything through the power of positive thinking. The anti-christ will set himself up in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God based on what he thinks of and with himself.

Faith is that which the power of positive thinking distracts one from. Faith is allowed when one repents (has a complete change of mind about themselves) unto turning from one’s own thoughts, all the way unto being converted to child-like faith in full submission and dependence upon God’s will and way. This faith is essential to avoid the pitfalls of the power of positive thinking, such as presumption and self assertiveness.