What Happens When a Nation Spirals into Darkness? By Michael Brown

What Happens When a Nation Spirals into Darkness?

By Michael Brown

Have you ever seen a sports team collapse in a game? The players were doing well, then one thing went wrong, then another, and before you knew it, the game had become a disaster. More serious, have you ever seen someone’s health collapse? One day they seemed to be fine. The next day, they experienced some unusual pain and tiredness. The following day, total exhaustion. Then, the terrible diagnosis from the doctor, followed by debilitating sickness and death. It is tragic to behold. Yet there’s something far worse. I’m talking about when a nation collapses—morally and spiritually. When a culture spirals out of control. When restraint is all but gone. When good becomes evil and evil becomes good. This is what we are witnessing in America today. Our country is spiraling out of control. Our culture is unraveling. Darkness is being heralded as light. The words of the Prophet Joel have never been more relevant: “‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?” (Joel 2:12–14, ESV). Our nation is falling apart at the seams. Only the Lord can make us whole. The hour is late—but not too late. How will we respond?