“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

In these modern times, when the moral fabric of our nation is stretched thin and the cacophony of discord echoes from sea to shining sea, it is easy to fall into the trap of fearing only the tangible threats that beset us. Yet, as we fixate on the visible sins, we must not forget the invisible, omnipotent hand that guides the fate of nations. As a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, it is our duty to examine the divine implications of our current path, lest we find ourselves on the brink of judgment.

“Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

As we contemplate the state of our nation, we observe the rise of manifold evils, from the erosion of traditional values by the LGBTQ movement—demonstrative of a nation given over by God to the lusts of their hearts—to the deceptive machinations of the Democratic party, which enshrines the judgment of God into national policy. Yet, in the shadow of these conspicuous dangers, we often overlook the true peril that looms over us all. The omnipotent God Himself, the one who holds the power to judge and bring calamity, is the greatest threat to the United States of America.

The Scriptures bear witness to the truth that the Lord is a God of justice, who “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11), but carries it out as a matter of justice, as is His nature. When a nation strays from the precepts of righteousness and lapses into ungodliness, it is God who causes calamity and judgment to befall it. The iniquity of Sodom and Gomorrah, the hubris of Pharaoh, and the waywardness of the Israelites themselves stand as a testament to God’s judgment upon those who disregard His commandments.

As we find ourselves in a veritable morass of moral decline, it is imperative that we turn to the Scriptures, seeking to understand the transformative power of regeneration, the power of the gospel to save our souls from sin and certain death. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, speaks of the process of regeneration as one of dying to the old self and being reborn in Christ: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To avert the judgment of God, we cannot merely fight the worldly fight against evils we dislike, a noble but insufficient cause. It isn’t that we shouldn’t stand against the evils of the world, it’s simply that we should recognize the real, eternal threat that looms over us. We must humbly acknowledge our own sinful nature and cast ourselves upon the mercy of Christ. Regeneration through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the only means by which we can escape the due penalty of our transgressions and turn our hearts towards God. As John Calvin so eloquently posited, “the Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually unites us to himself.”

It is through faith alone, apart from works, that we can find the grace of God and the hope of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). As we witness the encroaching darkness in our nation, we must remain steadfast in the knowledge that our hope lies not in our own efforts but in the finished work of Christ on the cross. We are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” With faith firmly rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer can face any adversity, knowing that our eternal security is found in Him. The storms of this world may buffet us, but our anchor is secure in the Rock of Ages. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world.

While we continue to speak the truth to the conscience of this nation, and we continue to battle against the darkness that pervades us, ultimately, we must confront the reality that the greatest threat to our nation is not the tangible evils that surround us, but the judgment of God, who “has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). What good is it to win our nation back to our moral ideals yet continue to lose our souls? The people of this nation must urgently turn from their own wayward path, seeking repentance and turning to Christ alone as their only hope. And that can only happen if the gospel is our first love.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

The impending judgment of God is not a matter to be taken lightly. It is a call to repentance, a clarion call for all people to humble themselves before the Almighty God, the creator of the universe, the one who gives life and takes it away.

God may or may not choose to extend mercy and grace to our nation, and if He doesn’t, that’s His prerogative. God does not need America nor does He promise to restore her as a nation. What He does promise is to save His people, His bride, the ones whom he died on the cross for. As for America, ultimately she will perish along with all who reject the name of Christ as their savior, but the Church will live forever, escaping the eternal judgment of God. It is He alone who we should fear and He alone who has the power to judge us or save us. May we, as a people, have the courage and conviction to turn our eyes heavenward, seeking the divine intervention that alone can save us from the precipice of judgment.