Approaching the city of Los Angeles and landing at LAX is something I’ve done hundreds of times.
At night and during the day it really LOOKS THE SAME. EXPANSIVE. As far as the eye can see. OVERWHELMING mass of intertwining freeways. CONTINUAL stretches of buildings and homes. If you don’t know the area you would think that it’s one NEVER ENDING metropolis. Landings on a jumbo jet are quick, efficient and quite luxurious. No one really discusses the pilot’s “LANDING EXPERIENCE” unless it is an unusual thing involving EXCESSIVE turbulence, a bumpy landing or the rare crash.
A few weeks ago I got a new perspective. I was a passenger in a small plane. The approach coming into Los Angeles was quite different. We flew way below the jumbo jets. We got a much more EXTENDED, PRIVILEGED glimpse at the city. Our DESCENT was longer than normal. It really gave us a chance to TAKE IT ALL IN. We sat back and watched closely as the neighborhoods passed by. I saw things that I have NEVER SEEN before. Right where we live. I felt like I knew the city a little bit better having seen it UP CLOSE and PERSONAL. Eventually, we gently glided to a graceful landing.
Statistics show that the average lifespan of a nation is 200 years.
Our DESCENT as a nation is longer than normal. In the scheme of planes, the USA has been perceived by the world like a jumbo jet… quick, efficient and luxurious. But now, it’s near it’s last stage of decline. Overnight it became clear that our nation shifted from apathy and moral decay to dependency. The next, and last stage, of a declining society is to slide from dependency to bondage. There are two possible outcomes going forward if we reflect on similar declines of Ancient Greece and Rome. Either internal takeover by a dictator or takeover by an outside source. When the people are divided, dependent and bankrupt, we become easy prey.
And what does a Holy, Just God see when He “flies over” our nation?
An OVERWHELMING mass of intertwining sin?
EXPANSIVE wickedness…as far as the eye can see?
CONTINUAL stretches of His people and their homes being corrupted by sin.
A NEVER ENDING metropolis of depravity?
Dear God forgive us as a nation for mocking Your authority over us. And allowing things You detest, defy You and Your laws; to consume and rule us.
Dear God forgive us that as Your Church we are silent about Sin, Judgment and Hell, and pretend they don’t exist. And believe that the only aspect of Your personality to discuss with anyone is Your Love.
Dear God forgive us for assuming that just because we are sinners saved by grace that we no longer sin. And we really should be challenged to “cast the first stone”. To those whose “sin” looks worse than ours. John 8:7
We need a new perspective. And fast. We don’t have time to sit back and watch our neighbors pass by the opportunity to know who Jesus really is. We need to see things that we have never seen before. Right where we live.
Open our eyes God.
We “Christians” need to experience an eventful, unusual and rare landing.
One where we come CRASHING face down at the feet of Jesus. James 4:8
Repentance.
A landing of our EXPANSIVE Pride. James 4:6
A landing of our EXCESSIVE apathy. Romans 1:21
A landing of our selfish greed. James 4:4
A landing of our INTERNAL depravity. Romans 1:28
A landing of our unwillingness to call out SIN, in ourselves to others. James 5:16
Don’t worry… He will take it ALL in. John 1:29
And wow when we actually see our sin for what it is…we grieve, moan and wail. Our laughter turns to mourning and our joy to gloom. James 4:9
Then and only then…
Jesus will show you things that you have NEVER SEEN before about His Love, and His Unstoppable Forgiveness. And You will feel like you know Him a little better having seen Him UP CLOSE and PERSONAL. An EXTENDED and PRIVILEGED glimpse at an Almighty Holy God.
Humbled. He will lift You Up. To Revival. James 4:10
Bring it on God.
WE need it.
We don’t want to LOOK THE SAME.
PRAY FOR: Craig, Shelly and Evan as they unwind from this amazing campaign. In the worlds eyes, this was a loss. But, we know that this was a gain in the eyes of Jesus. Philippians 3:8-10
Please pray for guidance, direction and vision. There is much to be done for the kingdom.
PRAY FOR: The Huey Report, Reality Alert, Election Forum, Victoryupdates.com, Precinct Prayer will all continue. Pray the people that are currently on these databases will be encouraged by the communications. Pray that the readers will remain activists with a vision to see transformation within their communities.
PRAY FOR: The many lives that were touched by this campaign throughout this county and state. We were privileged to have an incredible snapshot of what God is doing in His church throughout Southern California. Campaign Updates to follow.