A Warning for America (Part 2)

Read: 1 Kings 18:17-40

From this passage of Scripture, and over the course of the next few weeks, I want to give you four considerations: THE problem, a question, a choice, and a challenge. In this devotional, we will consider the problem. What was THE problem the people of Israel faced? Was it the drought? That was a problem, but it was not THE problem. Was it the economy? That was a problem. Whenever you have a drought, it affects the economy. But the economy was not THE problem. Was it Ahab and Jezebel? Well, they presented a big problem, but again, they were not THE problem. And so, what was THE problem?

Look back at verses 17 and 18. When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” You see Ahab thought Elijah was the problem. But Elijah was not the problem. Understand that THE problem could not be seen by the human eye, because THE problem had to do with the human heart. In verse 18 Elijah said, “I have not made trouble for Israel. But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.” THE problem with the Israelites was the problem of their hearts. Their hearts had turned away from God and they were worshipping other gods.

We have the same problem today. Our problem is not our economy. Our problem is not our health care system. Our problem is not our education system. And our problem, believe it or not, is not our political system. Our problem is the same problem of the Israelites. Our problem is found in our hearts. In our hearts, we have turned away from God, and we are worshipping other gods. It is in our hearts that we have abandoned the Lord’s commands. Understand that the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can [understand] it?” It has been said that the heart is an idol factory. In other words, our hearts are constantly manufacturing idols that we can worship: money, pleasure, popularity, success and comfort. The list goes on and on. These are the gods we are worshipping here in America. And this is THE problem we are facing as a nation. We have abandoned God, and God will abandon us, unless we turn back to Him.

Next week, I will share with you the historical foundation of our nation. Then, you will see how far we have drifted away from God. Stay tuned! Amen!