This morning I’ve been weeping for the people of Afghanistan and the horrific nightmare that is now their reality. The Taliban is in full possession of billions of dollars worth of U.S. weaponry and are going door to door murdering anyone who isn’t on board with their reign of terror. People are literally clinging to the outside of airplanes as they take off in a last-ditch effort to get the heck out of dodge. And it is, in fact, their last effort. As the footage of Afghan citizens plummeting to their death in an effort to escape replays in my mind, I am reminded of Proverbs 29:2:

“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.”

Or Proverbs 28:12:

“When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.”

As my heart aches for these poor people, I am reminded of an unpleasant truth: we don’t have godly leadership in America, either. But at least we have Sweet Frog! Our country seems miles better than others, but underneath the shiny exterior we’re just as rotten. Our brave and good government supports and funds the genocide of thousands of innocent American children every year (but for heaven’s sake, get rid of the death penalty for deranged murderers!). I’m talking about abortion, if you missed it. Cover it up with different words, if you want. If you can find a way to rationalize dismembering babies in the womb or injecting poison into tiny human hearts, your humanity has left you. We are a wicked nation bent on self-worship and self- satisfaction. Whatever God hates, we whole-heartedly embrace. We celebrate sexual “freedom”. We murder our own children. We are full of every type of evil, and we dare anyone to voice even the slightest objection. We are wicked and we are proud. And we are about to see what happens when God gives us over to our complete and total depravity.

We are not going to like what is coming. While we are binging “The Bachelorette”, and wasting our time coming up with three thousand different pronouns, evil people with too much money and zero clucks to give about anyone but themselves are working hard to bring their plans to fruition. Google “The Great Reset” and the World Economic Forum if you want to see what our busy-bee world leaders have been up to. We can’t even see it coming because we’re so distracted. And we don’t care. As long as we’ve got Netflix, Door Dash, and Tik-Tok, everything is right with the world. No matter that our kids are being indoctrinated with atheistic ideologies and our free speech isn’t quite so free anymore.

The evil in Afghanistan is obvious. Men are riding through the streets and shooting people. The evil in America is insidious. We are rotting from the inside out.

People of God:

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

If we are not leading the charge of godliness, repentance, and prayer, who will? If we do not stand up against evil agendas and the wickedness infiltrating every crack and crevice of our society, who will? Apathy and indifference have led us here but we will have to fight our way out.

We are a nation under siege by an enemy stronger than the Taliban. In fact, the same Enemy who drives forward the wicked armies and dictators all over the earth is coming for the people here, as surely as the Taliban is going from door to door. The only way to escape horrific death and eternal suffering is to be under the protection of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Read this passage from Matthew down below. Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Matthew 24:7-14 NLT (emphasis mine)
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. [8] But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. [9] “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. [10] And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. [11] And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. [12] Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. …

As it stands right now, some of our friends, family, and neighbors are not going to be in heaven. They have bought into the lie that they can make it on their own. They will die in their sin and spend eternity in hell. Who will leave the comfort of the couch and go after them? They need to see Christians living like Christians. They need to hear the gospel. There is no hope for them apart from the good news of Jesus Christ.

And I must quote Billy Sunday and say, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.” The man or woman who lives a life outside of relationship and obedience to the Lord is not a Christian. These people are just as dead in their sin as those who outright reject God. Saying a “sinner’s prayer” once and going about your life of sin does not make you a follower of Jesus. That’s not even in the Bible. You know what does makes you a follower of Jesus? Following Jesus. Until the end. Crazy, right?

Better off is the Christian dying a brutal death in Afghanistan today than the unsaved American who dies in his or her comfortable bed fifty years from now. The first will enter paradise, the second an eternity of desolation and bitter regret.

If you find yourself in the second category, it’s not too late for you! Repent and turn to Jesus right now! Call on the name of the Lord and be saved! Today is the day of salvation.

Christians, the war rages all around us. Turn off the distractions and live as though people are dying. Because they are.

Wake up.

Well, this has been cheerful.