Friday, March 29, 2024
More
    HomeLifestyleJim Langley: Turning Away from a Path of Destruction | Homes &...

    Jim Langley: Turning Away from a Path of Destruction | Homes & Lifestyle

    Twenty-one years ago, the world experienced one of the most horrific days in the history of humankind. Sept. 11, 2001, was a day that we cannot forget — at least I hope we Americans will never forget.

    Most of us know exactly where we were that ominous morning. Dave Koppa and I were in the midst of attending the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, nearly 12 hours away from our families. It would take us three days to find a rental vehicle to return home since all flights had been canceled.

    As insurance agents, we naturally thought of the financial consequences of all those families affected by the traumatic events that unfolded that morning.

    Twenty-one years later, I for one have not forgotten the heinous crime committed against America on that day. Not only were nearly 3,000 lives cut short, but thousands and thousands more were affected by those tragic events.

    Yet, I know that our God has everything under control and vengeance is the Lord’s. However, that does not mean we sit passively awaiting the Enemy to attack our land. We must remain vigilant.

    The enemy who emerged from the shadows 21 years ago cunningly devised a number of strategic attacks on our financial, military and governmental centers. America’s response was remarkable as we came together on a united front, filling our churches, cathedrals and synagogues every week.

    “God Bless the USA” and other quickly written patriotic ballads hit the airwaves and kept us focused on what made America so great and resilient. Then as time passed, we gradually went back to business as usual, with the exception of heightened security of air travel.

    Twenty-one years later, many who were not yet born or too young to recall those terrible events apparently know little of the tragedy suffered at the hands of jihadists on that eventful day. Then again, rather than look back, in my opinion we need to consider the Enemy that lies within our borders.

    I’m not referring to the out-of-control immigration taking place on our Southern border. The Enemy has infiltrated all levels of government, education, big business, media and entertainment, and even our religious institutions.

    As a people, we need to simply open our eyes and realize the foundation of this great nation could possibly crumble from within, if we don’t return to what made America great nearly 250 years ago.

    What I’m referring to is the once impenetrable relationship our forefathers embraced with the God of the Universe! The Enemy wants to destroy that special relationship that Alexis de Tocqueville coined as “The American Experiment.”

    In short, Tocqueville recognized the significant contribution of godly men in the construct of the foundational documents that have kept our democratic republic intact all these years.

    Let me quote Dr. James Dobson from his Personal Correspondence/Focus on the Family (1988) when he prophetically shared: “Our only hope as a nation is in a return to the scriptural underpinnings on which the institution of the family is based.”

    In essence, we need to get back to obeying and abiding in the Word of God to turn away from our current path of destruction.

    Just as a lobster will gladly enjoy relaxing in a pot of cold water for a time — as the heat rises, we, too, have unfortunately not realized just how hot the water has become.

    Lord, pluck us out of the discomfort we presently face for Your glory!

    Passages to Ponder

    » Psalm 94:1-8

    » 2 Timothy 3:14-17

    » 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

    » Hebrews 10:30-31

    — Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent in Santa Barbara. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. As a longtime member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he started writing Fourth Quarter Strategies columns in 2014, and he now reaches an international audience through the CBMC International devotional Monday Manna. He can be contacted at [email protected] for more information. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.

    RELATED ARTICLES

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    - Advertisment -
    Google search engine

    Most Popular

    Recent Comments