I suspect that a significant number of conservative Christians in the United States, whether or not they admit it openly, are pleased with some of the choices and decisions coming out of the newly-elected administration in Washington, D.C.  These paragraphs have never been political, nor will that stance change today.  But several issues critical to the spiritual well-being of believers need to be considered in light of our current national status. 

          1.  America’s problems are not rooted in natural causes and cannot be solved using natural means.  Regardless of someone’s politics or how he views the present state of national affairs (some may be thrilled with the changes, some may be upset, some may not be sure), every believer should realize that the source of America’s problems may be found in her rejection of God, and Jesus Christ, in particular, and her wholesale rejection of the Word of God.  The vast majority of the citizens of this country have deliberately and consciously departed from the Word of God, rejected salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, and scorned the righteousness and morality set forth in the inspired Book.  We have degenerated from being a “post-Christian” nation to become an anti-Christian nation—if Christian is defined in biblically accurate terms.  If the aforementioned is true, any solutions that fail to address that root cause of the nation’s problems are merely cosmetic.  Like lipstick, mascara, and foundation, they may make the corpse look better for a brief period of time, but they will not halt, or even slow, the decomposition of the body.

          2.  Only the faithful preaching of the gospel can change what is wrong with America—and then, only on a personal and individual basis, not nationally.  God has ever chosen only one nation or national people:  Israel.  Since they were (temporarily) cut off with the birth of the New Testament church, God has ceased to be in the nation-saving business.  Today, He saves individuals.  Many quote II Chronicles 7:14 as the key to America’s healing:  “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  But this promise applied specifically to Israel’s theocracy, which has ceased to exist.  And while it is true that God blesses His own faithful ones wherever they are and that He has blessed nations for the sake of His beloved ones living within those nations, blessing today accrues largely on an individual basis—New Testament salvation is personal and individual as are God’s blessings upon those whose faith rests in Him.

          3.  Believers must guard against allowing any positive temporal changes to erode their pilgrim character and engender spiritual complacency.  Nothing tests our spiritual fervor like health, wealth, ease, and good times in general. When trials come, the believer runs to the Lord.  But let life become easy and the human tendency is to relax, which is different from resting in the Lord.  Even if conditions around us should improve, we must not let down our guard, ease our watchfulness, or allow our zeal to wane.  Matthew sounds a warning against “the deceitfulness of wealth,” cautioning us that it will “choke the word” until “it becomes unfruitful” (13:22).