BETH EZRA TEACHING

............................ he that has ears to hear, let him hear................................

Volume Two, Issue 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 1998

A Nation on Trial

Listening to the reaction of media and political players involved in the scandal surrounding our nation's leader might lead one to believe that an unjust, political attack has been launched against the leader of the free world. It is almost amusing to watch intimate aides put on a profound display of shock and grief at the president's admissions to inappropriate behavior, as if they really did not know all along that he has been less than honest about his infidelities. Those who are acting this way are only doing so to protect their own shaky credibility, for if it is perceived that they knew he has been lying since January of this year, and supported him in his lies, they too are guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice. So, to protect themselves, they feign ignorance of the infamous 'bimbo eruptions' and act as if they too are victims of Clinton's deceptions. The evidence of this is in their steadfast loyalty to him. "Even though he has admitted wrong-doing," they persuade on camera, " let's be big about it and put his family matters back into privacy where they belong, and let him get on with running the nation." They are still pursuing the same goal, but have had to shift gears.

Those who truly were shocked at his admission of malfeasance are the ones who are seriously considering resignation. They realize that he wasn't honest with them on matters where they placed their respectability and reputation on the line to defend him, believing in his truthfulness. Now they feel betrayed, and can no longer trust in their Chief-of-state, knowing that he cares no more for them than he does for the truth. Such ones are truly victims, and are to be pitied.

The events that have been going on in Washington have been played out before. Ahab and Jezebel ruled Israel with a greedy, iron fist that relied on deception, threats and worse to accomplish their agenda. Interestingly, Ahab accused Elijah of troubling Israel (I Kings 18:17-18) for withholding rain, when in reality it was Ahab's idolatry that prompted the judgment of drought and famine to come on the land. Accusing the independent prosecutor of wasting $40 million during the seven months of the investigation, when a simple rendition of the truth way back when would have shortened the lengthy, expensive investigation considerably, is not unlike accusing Elijah of being the source of the trouble. The tactic is an old, but highly successful one: meet an attack with an equal counterattack. Indeed, an investigation has been called for by the White House to investigate Ken Star and any supposed misuse of office. Like Ahab and Jezebel, Bill and Hillary have surrounded themselves with powerful, clever people who are determined to advance ungodly causes that will weaken and undermine the strengths of America, all the while feigning religion, and calling on God, to deceive the unthinking masses. It was Ahab and his corrupt ways that brought God's judgment on Israel, and it will be Bill Clinton's legacy to have been the leader that brought America to the brink of judgment.

Ken Star is caught up in a maelstrom of events that will plot the course of the whole world into its ultimate decline and return of the Dark Ages. He, no doubt is unaware of the immensity of his role in these events. For his part, he just wants to do the job he was summoned to do, and to do it to the fullest of his potential, leaving no room for historians to accuse him that he did not do his job faithfully. He sees his responsibility to the American people, and wants to discharge his obligation with every ounce of integrity in him. Few have been a thorn in the Clinton's side as he has been, and lived to tell about it. The Clinton's climb to the most powerful office in the world is littered with the broken, jailed and dead, and Mr. Star is quite possibly in serious jeopardy. If any government official needs prayer support to finish the task set before him, it is Mr. Star.

It is not, however, Mr. Clinton that is really the one on trial in all this chaotic quagmire. God has engineered events to manifest openly before the whole nation, indeed, the world, the immorality and duplicity the Clinton Administration implements in accomplishing its goals. Now that the facts are known and established, what will we Americans do about it? As Elijah called Ahab to account for corrupting Israel and leading people away from the true God, and as John the Baptist declared aloud what everyone knew but was afraid to voice, exposing Herod and Herodias in their adultery, calling them to account and urging their repentance for corrupting the land, so too, there must be an Elijah who will stand and call the nation to accountability for allowing corruption in the highest office of the land. When the highest leaders in the land are vile, they are only a reflection of the heart attitudes of those they govern. Bill Clinton would not have been tolerated even as a candidate several years ago, much less received his party's nomination, ask Gary Hart. But that the lowering of moral standards and ethical expectations of our political leaders has occurred to allow a Clinton presidency because of his promises to make us feel good about ourselves, only shows how much the level of depravity has risen. As a nation we are willing to trade virtue for temporary pleasures.

Millions of Christians were disheartened and discouraged when Clinton was ushered into office for the first four year term. They redoubled their efforts at political recruitment, and increased fasting and prayer to defeat him at the polls a second time. When the results were announced, Christians were thrown into despair and confusion. How could God allow an adulterer and liar to be president a second time. The polls all said Clinton was ahead, but they believed-- exercising faith that God would give them victory despite the polls. In trying to reconcile this after the fact, how God could allow this to happen despite their faith, they concluded that God would 'save' Clinton, or that he maybe wasn't as bad as their heart told them. One supposedly prophetic group had a well known prophet declare that Bill Clinton would be the best president yet, that God had appointed him to do some tremendous deed that would save the free world, perhaps even becoming a born-again believer in the process. Current events have shown all the above to be wishful thinking.

God has indeed appointed Bill Clinton to do something significant to America. He is appointed to bring the nation to account for itself before God. Bill Clinton is what America has become. The evidence of this is in the polls that overwhelmingly still support him, saying "His private business is his own affair, just let him alone so he can run the economy". To acknowledge the lies, the deceptions, the misuse of power, the cover-ups and counterattacks designed to hide the facts, and not call him to account is a terrifying statement on the condition of the morality of the nation. Such a 'live and let live' attitude reveals a lack of character, a void of justice, and a rejection of godliness. Mr. Clinton took an oath of office before God, and even if popular opinion lets him off the hook, and if Congress does nothing more than fuss and fume, rest assured that God will not be slack concerning the use of His name. America had better prepare for God's judgments to come upon her, calling her to repentance, just as judgment came upon Ahab's Israel, and Herod's Judea. God does not willingly discipline, but when a point of iniquity is reached, for the sake of those remaining who do love godliness and truth, as well as His own name's sake, God will begin to touch a nation's economy, food supply, crime suppression, weather, military, natural resources etc. to get our attention.

Mercy and forgiveness are among God's primary characteristics, and He loves to exercise them. But He can only do so for the truly repentant. Repentance, in our nation today, has been reduced to mere mouthing words, without a change of lifestyle. It will take more floods, droughts, heat, cold, wild fires, Stock Market fluctuations, earthquakes, volcanos, red tides, air and water pollution, drug abuse, crime and the like to bring about a true godly repentance-- a crying out for God's power to help us return to the principles that America was once established upon. Unless there is repentance on a large scale, look for conditions in America to become much harsher, the like of which have not been seen since the days of the dust bowls and the Great Depression of the thirties. 'Revivals' based upon self-esteem philosophies will not cut it. It is just such philandering with the truth and true righteousness that has put the Church in America to sleep, preventing it from being a prophetic voice. Multitudes of false prophets are crying "Peace, peace, forgive and forget." Few are the voices crying "Repent."

The situation with Bill Clinton is quite serious. America is being judged by God for how she handles the Clinton debacle. America's heart will be revealed for what is important to her: convenience and comfort and wealth, as opposed to truth, integrity and justice. If Clinton is dealt with lightly, God will begin to deal with America more severely. Not that He hasn't already been striving to catch our attention, for the crises of this past year have broken all manner of records.

America is not alone, however, in having national motives under scrutiny. All nations are being weighed in the balance of God's truth and justice. It seems, that whereas God dealt with nations individually in times past, He is now getting ready to judge men's hearts globally. Recently another sovereign nation's leading family was embroiled in scandals involving infidelity and adultery. Marriages were held together , albeit contemptuously, for appearance's sake, while husbands and wives cavorted freely with other people's spouses. Eventually divorce was allowed, further violating godly principles and example. All this was winked at by the populace, even if a mock show of reproof was made. But when one of these jet-setting adulteresses was suddenly killed, the whole nation went into mourning, erecting shrines of flowery mementos. Prayers were said and even healings attributed to the departed, elevating the deceased to goddess status. There was no accountability for her lifestyle, no calls of repentance no expressions of remorse for the bad decisions she made, but rather, only a maudlin canonization of her prevailed. That nation too, was brought to the bar and the people's hearts exposed by their treatment of unrepentant sinners. Dare one state these things about Diana, Princess of Wales, without incurring the world's wrath?

Only the Elijahs and John the Baptists of our generation will state what everybody already knows but is afraid to say aloud. Judgment is coming. The leaders are but what the people themselves want, so all mankind stands guilty, in need of repentance. If we are, as many suspect, in the Beginnings of Sorrows, true repentance will be at a premium. True believers will need to guard their hearts against being drawn astray by what seems so equable and loving, which the perishing masses embrace. Instead, the true believer will be castigated as bigoted, unloving, cruel, and mean-spirited as he stands for God's truth in the midst of a wicked and adulterous generation (Mark 8:38).