Are America’s Best Days Behind Her?

The majority of Americans were pessimistic a couple of weeks ago. The news since has been even worse.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 51 percent of Americans believe that her best days are indeed gone forever. I’m sure that number is even higher now, because U.S. stocks lost an additional $1,000,000,000,000 in value in just one day since that poll was taken (July 28-29).

Have you ever taken note of the fact that American politicians routinely end major addresses with the statement—some might call it a prayer—“God bless America”? According to Time Magazine, the first modern politician to utter those words was President Richard Nixon on April 30, 1973, when he addressed the nation from the Oval Office in an attempt to put a lid on the rapidly escalating Watergate crisis.

I do believe that some national leaders, past and present, have a sincere faith in God and in the fact that American exceptionalism has been the direct result of divine blessings. (See our recent blogs on Governor Rick Perry’s call for a national day of prayer and fasting, which discuss the long tradition of U.S. leaders calling upon God for His blessing.)

A blessing is divine favor

A “blessing” is simply divine favor, and it comes in many forms. The Bible reveals that God promises many kinds of blessings for obedient nations, including victory in the event of war, appropriate rain, freedom from drought and floods, abundant crops and livestock, the ability to have healthy children, long and productive lives—just to name a few.

Biblical history records many instances of fulfillment of these promised favors. While you can read of blessings throughout the Bible, two sections in particular present long lists of remarkable promises of blessings (Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

More importantly, they explain how nations or individual citizens come to gain such favor from the Creator. It’s not complicated. God basically said, “Live by the commandments that I gave you, and I will be able to give you all of the benefits that I would like you to enjoy.”

Promised blessings do not mean a life without challenges, but they do mean a life with undeserved favors when you need them.

A curse is divine disfavor

Stop to consider another question: Do you believe in curses? I am not referring to the outlandish superstitions about people putting “curses” on other people. Read the context of those references from Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The same Creator who promised blessings warned that if His people chose not to live by the commandments He gave, He would have to subject them to curses.

A “curse” in this context means the opposite of “a blessing.” It is more than the absence of things going extremely well; it is the deliberate intervention of God to cause things to go extremely badly.

Would a loving God do such a thing? Biblical history shows that He would and that He did. Why? It is so important that people keep God’s beneficial Ten Commandments that God has clearly spelled out the blessings for obedience to that law and curses for disobedience. This doesn’t take away freedom of choice, but it strongly encourages people to choose well. God deeply desires the best for every nation and for every individual.

Could anyone claim in America’s defense that she has been living by the basic commandments of God? To the contrary, Americans literally boast their “badness,” their utter disregard for many of God’s laws. Many people have been confused into thinking that being “correct” means not condemning behavior that clearly violates God’s Ten Commandments.

Historically, God has given His people many chances to come to their senses. At indications of genuine change of heart and behavior, God has stopped any curses He has unleashed.

Is America at the crossroads now? Unless its people collectively change their behavior, are America’s worst days about to begin? Maybe so!

One thing is certain: If this isn’t it, that tipping point will most certainly look like these times.

Your choice

God works with nations, and He also works with individuals. Clearly, all citizens are affected by what happens to their nation, but God can still give favor to individually obedient citizens. You can’t change your nation by yourself, but you can change your own behavior.

Jesus told us not to be overly anxious about tomorrow’s troubles, because today’s worries are enough. That’s true today! Knowing we need to be concerned about a job, food, housing and clothing, He promised, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:32-33).

We have laid out in plain language how you can “seek first the kingdom” in The Mystery of the Kingdom.

Cecil Maranville is a minister of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, who coordinates the responses to questions our readers send using our Contact form.