Do You Know the Time?
Written by Scott Jones
Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.
(1 Chronicles 12:32)
The sons of Issachar were wise men who understood the times in which they lived. Even though their fellow Israelites may have been distracted by idols and foreign powers, they knew what the nation should do. Unfortunately, in our nation today there seem to be very few who understand the times in which we live. As a result, we are seeing a steady decay of our nation and its culture of Liberty. When I say “Liberty”, I do not mean the freedom to simply do whatever it is you want to do. Judges 21:25 speaks to that kind of freedom. Liberty means the freedom to choose to do that which is right in the eyes of God.
The Signs of the Times
Clearly the spirit of the age is running rampant in the United States of America. We are witnessing evils and horrors unimaginable merely ten years ago.
Killing of unborn babies continues in many states, even with “Roe” overturned.
Sex trafficking is rampant.
Children are taken to “Pride”, LBGTQ+, and “drag queen” events where they are exposed to all manner of inappropriate sexual perversity.
Government is spending money they don’t have, increasing debt for future generations and simultaneously debauching the currency.
Justice has two tiers – one in which the elites are excused for any infraction no matter how vile, and another in which parents are investigated and arrested for trying to protect their children.
Public school libraries have become pornography reading rooms.
A mother rescues her child and is subjected to police harassment.
The government praises evil and punishes good.
How did this happen? Alexander Solzhenitsyn put it succinctly in his 1983 Templeton Prize address:
More than half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened…. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened…. And if I were called upon to identify briefly the principal trait of the entire twentieth century, here too, I would be unable to find anything more precise and pithy than to repeat once again: Men have forgotten God. (Solhenitsyn 1983)
Given Over to a Depraved Mind
When men forget God, He gives them over to a depraved mind and allows them to perform all manner of evil. The Apostle Paul tells us:
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
(Romans 1:28-32)
Truly we are being led by people with depraved minds – in government, corporations, entertainment, and media. Paul describes this situation further in his second letter to Timothy:
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
(2 Timothy 3:1-8)
Peter echoes this in his second letter to the Church:
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
(2 Peter 3:3-4)
Friend, these are the times in which we live. Be like the Sons of Issachar and understand the times. Some of our leaders are people with depraved minds. They have forgotten God and become mockers of Him, His work, and His creation. They are full of unrighteousness, injustice, wickedness, and all other evils described by Paul and Peter – fully given over to the spirit of the age. We must pray for them, and also hold them accountable.
Still Not Convinced?
A recent Barna poll showed that 51% of Americans claim to have a Biblical worldview, but at the same time only 6% believe in the principles of a Biblical worldview. (Saliong 2021)
This is a stunning contradiction between what people say and what they do. "Our studies show that Americans are neither deep nor sophisticated thinkers. Most people seem more interested in living a life of comfort and convenience than one of logical consistency and wisdom. Our children will continue to suffer the consequences of following in the unfortunate footsteps of their parents and elders. People who are willing to fight for a more reasonable way of thinking and acting can make a difference, but it will be slow progress," Barna observed. (Saliong 2021)
A 2009 Barna survey defined having “Biblical worldview” means believing that ALL of the following statements are true:
Absolute moral truth exists;
The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches;
Satan is a real being or force, not merely a symbol;
A person cannot earn their way to Heaven through “good works”;
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and
God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules in the universe today.
The 2009 survey showed that a majority of Americans only believe in the accuracy of the Bible and in God as Creator. All of the other criteria were affirmed by a minority. (Barna 2009)
Having forgotten God and rejected His wisdom and power, it is no wonder He has given us over to depraved minds.
So What Do We Do?
We must be aware of our times and honestly face the increasing evil of our times. Like the Sons of Issachar, we must understand our times and recognize what is best for our nation. The Apostle Peter tells us to be alert:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
(1 Peter 5:8)
Likewise, the Apostle Paul tells us:
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
(1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
We must face evil with courage. We may fear the evil around us, but God’s love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). He commands us repeatedly to act with strength courage, depending on Him to fight our battles for us. (Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10)
We must pray for national revival. The times suggest that judgment is close at hand. Without a revival by the Spirit of God, our nation will be lost. There is nothing we can do in our own strength that will reverse the tide of wickedness enveloping our country. No outpouring of niceness and winsomeness will stop the inroads of our enemy. We must put on the full armor of God and stand firm in prayer, beseeching Him to pour out His Spirit and to restore our nation. Do not lose hope, we serve a God who is good, merciful, gracious, abounding in lovingkindness. He desires all men to come to Him and partake of His great salvation of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins, mine and yours.
We must also be active. While victory only comes through Revival, we are called to seek the welfare of our community, state and nation. To that end, I encourage you to take the Christians Engaged Pledge to:
Pray for our nation and our elected officials at least once a week.
Vote in every election for men and women who exhibit the qualities of Exodus 18:21.
Engage in some way to seek the welfare of your community, state, and nation.
Are we Nineveh or Babylon? Only time will tell.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Works Cited:
Barna. 2009. Changes in Worldview Among Christians over the Past 13 Years. March 9. Accessed June 16, 2022. https://www.barna.com/research/barna-survey-examines-changes-in-worldview-among-christians-over-the-past-13-years/.
Saliong, Sarah Mae. 2021. Only 6% Of Americans Believe Biblical Worldview, Barna Survey Reveals. May 27. Accessed June 16, 2022. https://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/11996/20210527/only-6-percent-of-americans-believe-biblical-worldview-barna-survey-reveals-family-research-council.htm.
Solhenitsyn, Aleksandr. 1983. Men Have Forgotten God. May. Accessed June 16, 2022. https://orthochristian.com/47643.html.