U-Turn Here—and Now! - 2 Kings 17:5-9a,13-15,18-20

In recent lessons we have discussed the problem in America concerning homosexuality, same sex marriages, and abortion, all are sinful in the sight of God. All are sinful because they defy the will of God regarding the family and God’s reason for creating both man and woman and establishing the proper relationships they should maintain. We must realize that it is just as sinful and also hypocritical for anyone to condemn these people, while they are married and at the same time are involved in extra-marital relationships; committing adultery, and causing their partner to be adulators as well.

Our lesson this Sunday is regarding the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Because God loved these people He sent his prophets to warn them, but they adamantly refused to repent of their sins; and it ultimately resulted in the demise of the entre kingdom. Had they repented of their sins, God would have protected them against their enemies and the nation would have been saved. It was their refusal to repent and serve Him that brought His final judgment. Our goal in the lesson today is to examine our own attitudes and actions that are against God’s will and seek forgiveness before His judgment falls on us. No lesson has ever had a title that fit America any better than this one does. This country needs to make a quick U-TURN HERE AND NOW.

Space and time prevents the listing of all related scripture; however, it is necessary for you to know what God says in his word regarding sin and its consequences. Just remember that there is always a pay-day some-day. Please read the background and lesson passages as listed above in the heading. The Israelites refused to listen to the priest sent to warn them and persisted in their sins, and the punishment included the total destruction of their country. This lesson is a warning that is applicable to us today in America and in my opinion we are following the same destructive path that they traveled.

The central story related throughout both first and second Kings has always been regarding the one important issue; God’s claim for loyalty. The list of their sins is long and regarding many things but the cause for God’s indictment was basically the breaking of the first commandment; “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me” [Exod. 20: 2-3].

We have come to the third and final invasion of Assyria into Israel [The first two are recorded in the 15^th chapter, verses 19 and 29, and the people should have learned from them—but didn’t.] This time they were taken captive and moved to other nations, and replaced by foreigners. God did what he had warned that he would do in Deuteronomy 28. He had given Israel ample warning, but they still ignored God and went their own way. Their challenge was to honor God and be a light to the world. Their failure resulted in the birth of Christ and his redemptive power nearly 6000 years later.

Israel’s judgment came because the people copied the evil customs of the other evil nations surrounding them, worshiping false gods, accommodating pagan customs, and following their own selfish desires. It is not safe to create your own religion because it creates selfishness. Living selfishly always brings serious consequences from God. It is not easy to always put God and others first; however you can either live for God or die for yourself. What God thinks is much more important than what others think of you—see: Romans 12: 1-2, and 1 John 2: 15-17.

See 2 Kings 17: 9-15, sins are both public and private, wickedness and idolatry in public, and private sins that people do not want others to know about. God always knows what people believe and what they are doing. God’s mercy and patience are always beyond our ability to understand. He will constantly pursue us until we respond or by our own choice [each person must accept or reject God’s mercy], become unreachable. His judgment is swift and sure. My choice, your choice, America’s choice is to do a U-TURN to God before our sinful ways and stubbornness puts us out of His reach. The bible teaches us that “God’s spirit will NOT always strive with man.” He does have a limit, beyond which He will not hear our prayers.

Far too many Americans are willing to compromise their faith by participating in interfaith worship where it is admissible to pray to God, but the name of Christ cannot be mentioned. There are some religious leaders today that say that our belief that Jesus Christ is the Only Way can be compared to the terrorist of September 11, who believe that their religion is the only way. I sense a movement in America [to my sorrow condoned by the main-stream media] to embrace a pervasive tolerance that would finally rule our belief in one God as being arrogant and even oppressive. It is our place as Christians not to condemn or oppress, but to present an open invitation, to all that will believe, to come to Christ. Those who support the “one church” idea must remember that God demands exclusive loyalty, and Jesus Christ plainly told us that He alone—“is the Only Way to the Father.

I realize that there is a need for Christians to accept and extend a helping hand to others, because there will always be diversity, and we must share Christ with the world. We also must be carefully aware that the religious confusion in our society today bears a close resemblance to the conditions in Samaria 600 years BC, as described in the lesson for today. They paid a price, and it was the complete loss of their country. A corrupt view of God and corrupted practice of worship will lead any nation to destruction.

How did early America, the weakest nation on earth, sustain against some of the strongest nations, England, France, and Spain? I know! Our soldiers with bare feet, wrapped in paper and cloth, bleeding as they crossed the Delaware, were successful because of a profound belief in God and conviction that they were right. The founders of this nation called on God for His protection and help in every document that was written including our constitution. We need a U-TURN back to those same beliefs and practices.

We can not afford to compromise our faith because it leads to further compromise and corruption. God will not accept, or even tolerate, anything less than exclusive loyalty to Him; and there is no doubt that we become what we worship. We must guard our hearts against anything that compromises the truth of God, and our biblically based convictions. I truly believe that our greatest threat in America today is the temptation of the masses to syncretism—a combination of different forms of beliefs and practices, many of which have ignored our Creator. God bless America!

I invite you to worship in my church next Sunday. Make sure that you go to the church of your choice and worship regularly. Even more importantly, make sure that the teachings of the church you attend is that there is only one God, one faith, and one baptism; and that salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In order to be born again, you must believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, and invite Him to come into your heart and live through you.