10/25/2026
"O our God, will You judge them?
For we have no power against this great multitude
that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do,
but our eyes are upon You."
2 Chronicles 20:12
Quoting from Shakespeare Act III, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar - "Mischief, thou art afoot." Somehow it seems to fit the current circumstances of our day. Shakespeare was very astute in describing certain events and responses to them. There are a great many historical leaders and theologians who have adequately described what transpires when man loses his way and dives headlong into the lust for power. I've been watching the story of George Whitefield, the evangelist, who lit the colonies on fire with the message of Christ's love and coming judgment. I wonder if he'd be as successful today boldly and unashamedly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our courts and Congress. Perhaps he'd be able to free the tongues and convict the hearts of the sleeping church he preached about. Or would his words fall on deaf ears or apathetic ones much as his words could not elicit a change in the heart of Benjamin Franklin, his dearest friend, or so it seems. Only God knows a person's heart, but I pray that Franklin did accept Christ as Savior and Lord and is enjoying fellowship in heaven with Jesus and with the friend who led him to the Truth.
I feel a great sadness for the country of Brazil tonight, as I just learned of the election results. The existing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the election, and the precious Christ followers in the country will live under the same left-wing government. If the people of God do not awake from their slumber and speak out, pastors teach and warn their flocks, and vote Biblically, the same evil could befall our nation. It has already filtered in, and no one noticed. It is now openly in front of their eyes, evil voicing their plans and schemes, and yet, no one is the wiser. "As in the days of Noah...."
I sat in a meeting this afternoon listening to opinions from several men invited to share insight on both the elections in Israel and those here in America. Over the past few days I've heard many statistics, and the logic and analogies are a bit over my head. So, I continue to do what I do which is pray about everything and leave the results to God. But I am in no wise sedentary in my prayers or speaking out. Jesus told us to occupy until He returned, use our gifts, be a light in the darkness, and that is what I intend to do.
At the end of the movie, A Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin, grieved by the death of his close friend George Whitefield some years earlier, remembering his words of truth urging him to accept Christ, a segment was shown of the Constitutional Convention still debating about what to do. The debates were ugly, dividing, much ranting and raving, reaching no conclusion. It appears as if not much has changed in all these years. But on June 28, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA, amidst all the squabbling, Benjamin Franklin arose from his seat, walked slowly to a window to draw back the curtains, the room flooded with light. His actions were noticed by George Washington who is presiding. He recognized Dr. Franklin who gave the following appeal:
"Mr. President:
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without [H]is notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without [H]is aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without [H]is concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service." (copied from a rending of the original document)
Naturally there were naysayers, beginning with the question of how to pay for a clergyman to come daily when they had no funds available. Such nonsense is always the issue in life, when the Bible says that the gift of God, the words of God are free, but it also says God provides for all our needs. It should be an honor to be asked to pray over this assembly, anytime or anywhere. Prayer did indeed become a daily practice in Congress, and it continues to this day. Sadly, for years the prayers had to be scripted in order to be approved and then presented to those in attendance as approved. I know of one brave Pastor who was asked to pray before Congress whose prayer was changed. When he went to pray, he asked God's forgiveness for allowing the prayer to be scrutinized, and he prayed the prayer Holy Spirit had anointed him to pray, using the name of Jesus Christ liberally. To God be the glory!
We may be wary of what to say and what to do in many circumstances. Evil does exist, and these times are perilous, but we as followers of Christ, do not fear. We stand bravely in the authority Jesus gave us before ascending to Heaven. Our God reigns. He is God, and there is no other! Our eyes are on Him!
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