WILL GOD BLESS OUR SIN?

WILL GOD BLESS OUR SIN?
Saturday, April 16, 2022 by Leona Choy

pa·tri·ot·ic/ patre'ädik/ “Having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.” Respect for the country's flag, a desire to see your nation succeed, and a deep, abiding love of your country don’t mean you think your country’s perfect — just that you love it.

Long ago in a former century when I entered kindergarten (yes, I'm pushing a calendar 100), we kids all learned to sing America the Beautiful. We didn't expect or need teachers' indoctrination on gender choice or twisted, unnatural sexual behavior. We knew who we were. Teachers were busy seeing that we learned the 3 “R's”. No one objected to praying The Lord's Prayer each morning or saluting the flag or reciting The Pledge of Allegiance and eventually adding “under God.” The Stars and Stripes were waving proudly everywhere. We played Cowboys and Indians without racism overtones of victims and oppressed.

Our country is almost unrecognizable now in comparison. Patriotism is thought of by many of its citizens as hokey—schmaltzy, maudlin. Are we embarrassed to sing, “America! America! God shed His grace on thee...and crown thy good with brotherhood...God mend thine every flaw...confirm thy soul in self-control...thy liberty in law!” Or “God, Bless America, land that I love; stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above.” That's all too much like prayer, and that isn't cool these days—we are likely to get canceled.

What does “the countenance of God” look like? Is He smiling, indulgent like a jolly, ol' Saint Nick, and turning a blind eye to our national sin? Are we going to get away with the outright evil, lies, deceit, murder of the innocent, and moral corruption? Inquiring minds want to know—those of us who still believe the “In God we trust” declaration on our devalued currency.

“Countenance” is an archaic word for “face” or, more specifically, the facial reflection of an inward mood or emotion. Modern translations use “face” instead of countenance, more specifically the expression on a human face reflecting whether sad and crestfallen like the rich, young ruler who had many possessions or the elation on the face of the shepherd who rescued the lost sheep.

However, God is beyond the physical. As Jesus told us in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship Him in the Spirit and in truth.” As humans, we have a difficult time understanding a Being as complex, and all-powerful as God, so we tend to ascribe human characteristics to God. To speak of God as having a countenance or eyes is a metaphor or representation for God’s expression, God’s approval, God’s blessing — not an actual face or facial expression. We call God “our heavenly Father,” and refer to Him in family terms, although we know that the Creator of the Universe is beyond time, gender, and other human attributes. We call this anthropomorphism. It is helpful for our human comprehension of God.

God does not have a physical face unless He chooses to take on a physical form. He did so when He came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ to be “the way and the truth and the life,” (John 14:6) to show us the path to heaven. No one has seen God. He shows us His face, although indirectly, through the incarnation, the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6,

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Put another way, in Hebrews 1:3, we are told that Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

This phrase, “lift up His countenance upon you” in Numbers 6:24-26 involves God taking us into His presence to see His face. Although we can’t actually see God in His glory while in our mortal bodies, He’s offering us the greatest blessing by boldly welcoming us into His presence. (Hebrews 4:16) Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross took away the sins which separated us from Him. It brings to mind a father smiling and taking pleasure in his child. He is looking at us for our good. God wants to bless us, protect us, be gracious to us, and give us peace—as individuals and as a nation.

“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance” (Psalm 89:15). God has His eye on us as a nation founded uniquely on His principles. Will He allow us to get away with playing God ourselves?

Let's explore whether God could still “turn His countenance away” from America, cease blessing it, and permit our enemies to punish our sins.

To be just and merciful and loving, God does turn His countenance away and withdraws His approval and blessing from a nation at times of intentional national sin. Examples in the Bible are many when God brought judgment on His own people, Israel when they turned to wicked ways. God warned Moses in (Deuteronomy 31:17-18) that the Israelites would eventually betray and disobey God, turning from Him to be unfaithful by worshiping and embracing the strange, false gods of the lands they were about to enter. God vowed His anger would then turn against His people.

“And on that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and on that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’ And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods” In Ezekiel 7:22 God revealed to the prophet that His great judgment would come upon the people for their deliberate, willful sin, “I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it.”

Today we are only beginning to experience God's displeasure. There could be more justice to come upon us. God can't look the other way— God is angry when we willfully turn from Him, when we forsake our godly national roots, tear down our historical monuments, and put modern gods before Him to blindly “follow fake science.” He is justified to turn His countenance from us and reverse the blessings He showered so generously upon us. The litany of our national and individual sins is to be found throughout the Bible.

Ann Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham, summarized some of America's intentional sins (not minor flaws) at the Day of Prayer in 2017: Our “state of the nation” has grown far worse since then.

"We confess our foolishness of denying You as the one true living God, our Creator to whom we are accountable, living as though our lives are a cosmic accident with no eternal significance, purpose, or meaning.

We confess we no longer fear You, and thus we have not even the beginning of wisdom with which to handle the vast knowledge we possess.

We confess to believing that the prosperity of our nation is because we are great while refusing to acknowledge that all blessings come from your hands.

We confess that we depend upon our military might and our weapons systems to defend us from harm and danger while denying, defying, and ignoring You.

We confess that we have succumbed to the pressure of pluralism and our desire to be inclusive so that we honor other gods as though You are just one of many.

We confess that we have allowed the material blessings You have given us to deceive us into thinking we don't need You.

We confess that we feel entitled to what someone else has earned instead of taking responsibility for ourselves and our families as we trust in You.

We confess that we live as though material wealth and prosperity will bring happiness.

We confess our greed that has run up trillions of dollars of the national debt. We confess our arrogance and pride that have led us to think we are sufficient in ourselves.

We confess national addiction to sex, money, pleasure, entertainment, pornography, technology, drugs, alcohol, food, television, to popularity, to ourselves.

We confess that we have marginalized truth and mainstreamed lies.

We confess that we have become one nation under many gods divided and polarized, with a license to sin and justice that often does not follow the rules of law."

In First Corinthians chapter six, the Apostle Paul gets more specific.

Could our nation regain the favor of the countenance of God after going so far astray?

The Lord is merciful, patient, and full of compassion. God also gave humanity free will. We can choose whether to follow Him — or not. When we choose Jesus, we choose His way. That means keeping His revealed commandments and natural laws, putting God first, walking out our faith, loving others, not canceling the speech of dissenters who speak His Truth, standing up for our Christian faith in perilous times, and keeping our focus foremost on matters of God's Kingdom.

When we find ourselves wandering far from our promised destiny as “the shining city on a hill,” we must remember from where we are fallen and repent and do the deeds we did at first” ( Revelation 2:5). If not, at the coming of Jesus He will remove our shining lampstand and we will be plunged into darkness to experience the consequences of His favor or disfavor through the blessings He withholds. We will surely wake up to find our freedoms and blessings missing, and we are no longer “shining from sea to shining sea.”

Will we ever see God?

In Revelation 22, we are shown that in the last days, after a great war between good and evil, evil will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever, we who follow Jesus will see a new heaven and earth, a new Jerusalem to replace the old. The River of Life and the Tree of Life will appear for the healing of the nations and peoples.

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”

At last, WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ3H3lg9NZM

To keep God’s countenance lifted upon us for good, turned favorably toward us, be gracious to us, and be given peace, is a serious job for each new generation that has the super privilege of living in America. That's what it takes—God helping us. It is almost too late. We are that present generation and this is our task. May it not happen that we should lose our beloved country on our watch!

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Comments

Peter Sabo From At 4/18/2022 9:50:14 PM

This indeed is a wake-up call to the saints everywhere and not just America to awake to righteousness and reclaim their nations for God. The Psalmist say "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." Thank you Mommy Leona for the wake-up call.

Reply by: Leona Choy

So good to have this comment from you and to "find" you again. I lost track of you since you didn't get to come to the U.S. to study. Please update me and let me know how I can pray for you and news about your ministry and family.

Linda Ann Fumea From FL At 4/18/2022 7:59:13 AM

Leona -- I found myself weeping when I read this, how far we have fallen. God is looking for a few good men and women to reach others for Christ, that's my prayer, that the saints will 'take up their crosses and truly follow' Jesus. Night is coming ... when no man will work.

Reply by: Leona Choy

Yes, this is a time of urgency to prepare with our lamps full of Oil awaiting the sound the trumpet which may come at midnight. But we must "occupy" until the Bridegroom comes.

BettyVonn Snapp From Stephens City, VA At 4/17/2022 7:32:36 PM

I recall this statement from a few months ago: “God did not add days to your life because you needed them, but because someone needed you.” We need you, Leona. You evaluate without devaluing, and appreciate without depreciating. You are such a godly encourager. I love you.

Reply by: Leona Choy

You are a great encouragement to me. Thank you. When will you come over across town and visit me for a cup of tea so I can get to know you?

James Huang From Hong Kong At 4/17/2022 6:15:42 AM

Happy Easter! Our respected and beloved Auntie Leona! God bless you and your whole family! In Christ, your loving Children, James & Lily www.n1m.com/jameshuang since 2022.1.20