My Eyes a Fountain

Sitting on my deck this morning, I was looking over the headlines in the daily paper. Subjects ranged from unemployment, parental choice of their children’s schools, Brussels attempting to deal with Europe’s spending crisis and the aftermath of the tragic shootings in Aurora, Colorado.

The subjects highlighted in each article had something in common—they came as a consequence of our society abandoning moral principles. Every problem—from individual isolation to society’s economic burden—is ultimately a moral problem. Dishonesty gives rise to increased regulation. Covetousness gives rise to more debt. The lack of chastity gives rise to broken homes and disturbed young people.

There is not a problem we face today that does not result from ignoring or rejecting God’s law. In place of the values of right and wrong, we have substituted the attitude of “Who am I to judge?”—and then are shocked when individuals conditioned by such an amoral atmosphere commit acts of evil.

Having grown up in the mid 1950s, I can see how times have changed. Of course, no time has been perfect, but values once thought worthwhile—such as honor, duty, courage and self-respect born of responsibility—are today often treated as irrelevant.

Unhappily, we in the United States are looking at the demise of a once-great nation that was given immense prosperity by an all-but-forgotten Creator God. There is no longer recognition that blessings flow from obedience to God’s commandments and that curses come from breaking them. An old adage states, “If we don’t change the path we’re on, we’ll arrive at our destination.”

As I thought about current events and the prospects for the near future, an overwhelming sadness descended. My eyes filled with tears, and my shoulders began to shake uncontrollably as I sobbed. Surprised by the unexpected emotion, I recalled God’s words expressed by the prophet Jeremiah: “Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh, that I had in the wilderness—a lodging place for travelers; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. ‘And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,’ says the Lord... Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity… Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’” (Jeremiah 9:1-3, 5, 9).

Jeremiah’s words described the ancient Kingdom of Judah, but they also apply to us today. God does not change (Malachi 3:6). As He dealt with nations and peoples in the past, He will deal the same with us today. As Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, wisely wrote, “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever” (Notes on the State of Virginia, Chapter 18).

Jesus Christ will soon return—this time in power to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth. To learn more about what will precede His coming, read our booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return. You can read it online, or request your own free printed copy.