In a world and country that is increasingly hostile to the ways of Christ, it’s easy to lose perspective and begin fighting the wrong battles. The battle for our culture is important, no doubt about it. At the same time, it is not the most important fight. Even if we lose the battle for the culture, God’s plan will carry on undeterred. If you’re like me, it’s hard to not be dismayed at the moral decline all around us.
Not so long ago, America was seen around the world as a Christian nation. We can debate for years what that actually meant and how well America lived up to such a platitude, but that was how the world saw the USA. Things have changed. To see it unfold in my lifetime has been both sobering and maddening.
The way the world works, they think battles are won and lost in the political spectrum. They use politics to shape the culture. Those are the wrong battles for followers of Jesus. This world is only temporary, so it makes no sense to die for anything that will eventually die on its own. If I’m going to die for anything, it’s going to be for something eternal. Nothing we do or accomplish in this life will matter in the end.
We should spend our lives focused on the souls of our friends and family. No matter what is happening in the world, if they die without Jesus, they will go to an eternal hell, forever separated from their Lord and Creator. The Bible gives us enough details about Hell for us to not wish it on our worst enemies. Why, then, are we so reluctant to tell those we care for about Jesus? We worry about keeping the peace, all the while knowing they will never know peace without Jesus. It makes no sense.
We waste much of our time fighting the wrong battles. Why are we shocked at all the evil and immorality around us? If we simply open God’s Word, we will see we shouldn’t be surprised at all. God told us this would happen. He said men would call good evil, and bitter things sweet (Isaiah 5:20-21). Through the apostle Paul, Jesus told us that people would no longer listen to sound doctrine, but only to what made them feel good (2 Timothy 4:3). When we turn our backs on God, He will hand us over to the desires of our hearts, and we will suffer the consequences sure to follow (Romans 1:24; Ephesians 4:19).
In scripture, God foretold everything that is happening. None of it comes as a surprise to Him, nor should it to us. As these things are being fulfilled, it’s important to not focus on the wrong battles. Do your civic duty; vote, call and write to your congressman, and sign the petitions. At the end of the day, though, the only thing that will matter is what you do for the Lord. I love my country, but my country is temporary. My country won’t save me. Only Jesus is eternal. Only He can save. That is what matters. Don’t get so caught up in what’s going on in the world that you forget to tell others about Jesus. Rescue the perishing and care for the dying. Do all you can to bring others into God’s Kingdom before it’s too late.