Exactly as He had done only a dozen years earlier, God sent Germany, along with Japan and Italy, to teach America and other “Christian nations” a much-needed lesson. And teach them they did. The early years of World War II found the Allies  losing to the Axis powers. Once again the churches filled with people who filled the air with prayer–same people, same prayers, same reason–rebellion against God.

Then, in His mercy, the Lord performed a series of miracles that even the most atheistic of people could not explain. The result was victory for the Allies–those who viewed themselves as the “good guys.” The people’s prayers had been answered. America really WAS the apple of God’s eye. America once again praised and honored her benefactor, but only temporarily as man’s memory problems once again came to fore. History was repeating itself–again–proving true what George Santana said: “They who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it.” Those who called themselves God’s people forgot the One Whose name they repeatedly dropped. Once again self-serving, self-sufficient man exalted himself over the One to Whom he owed everything.

But through all of the spiritual ups and downs of America’s history, God has always had a remnant–a tiny group of people who continually sounded the sin alarm to an ever smaller number of listeners. As church populations grew in size, God’s true saints found themselves shrinking in number. Nevertheless, God’s men relentlessly warned America and the world as did an aged hymn which predicted: “You can run on for a long time, but be sure God Almighty’s gonna cut you down.” And run on the industrialized nations did. It seemed that nothing could stop man’s ambitions from becoming real. The problem was that man’s ambitions revolved around the physical, not the spiritual.

Following World War II America exploded in a surge of prosperity that made the Roaring 20’s pale by comparison. Jobs were available. Money was being made. One car was now not enough. Man had to have not only more, but bigger, better and more expensive. Man, it was determined, could do anything and have anything his heart desired. The American man’s life-view meant that he not only COULD do and have, but he SHOULD do and have. To prove his might and right, MAN WENT TO THE MOON, and, according to him, did so under his own power. Once again man forgot God, the One who made that moon. Once again the Lord would get man’s attention.

This time ground zero was a tiny strip of land probing out into the Sea of Japan and populated by a backward, 1700’s era populace who called their country “Korea.” Once again America went to war. Once again Americans flocked to church and prayed for help from above. Once again masses of human beings were slain. But this time was different; this time there was no American victory. America had won her last war. The Korean “police action” ended as it had been fought–on man’s conditions. God had taken Himself out of the picture–His patience had come to an end. Henceforth His outpourings of wrath would serve as harbingers of more and worse to come. America and the Christian world had passed the point of no return. L.J.