As we look on in horror at the atrocities committed by Vladimir Putin and the Russian army in the invasion of Ukraine, we should not be surprised. It is not lost on me that this is the one-hundredth anniversary of the takeover of Russia by communism, forming the Soviet Union. Russia had enjoyed a long history of strong Christian influence for centuries. The Lenin doctrine of communism taught, not forced, the nation to forget God. After you have spent a hundred years declaring that there is no God, you become capable of the darkest savagery. Think of this; if there is no God, there is no consciousness, no shame, no accountability, and no remorse. The Russian leader Vladimir Putin has managed to stay in power for twenty-three years with the help of thugs, spies, poison, violence, debauchery, and blackmail. I read recently that his “revelation” is that he will live forever and rule the world. In his attempt to make this a reality, he is constantly attended to by an entourage of sixty doctors to keep him healthy. His desire to dominate is boundless. The slaughter in Ukraine is only the beginning of his plan. He must be stopped, but how? It will be difficult. He has chosen a time in world history when the nations were mostly led by weak politicians and not strong statesmen. If strong leaders had not risen up against the Nazis, the whole would be speaking German.
Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked will go down to the grave, all the NATIONS THAT FORGET GOD”. Notice, not, that never knew God, but that forgot God.
The destructive, demonic power we see unleashed against mostly innocent in Ukraine, comes from the ugly underbelly of a government that has declared and believes there is no God. Hitler is reported to have said as he was being defeated, he had mistakenly underestimated two things about the nations that he had invaded. He underestimated the power of their faith in God and their love of country. So as we face yet again a godless, antichrist principality, what must we do? Will we fail by ignoring the challenge and act like a nation that has forgotten God? Or will we rise up in the strength of unity and with one voice, pray powerfully, speak clearly, act decisively, and know that “when the righteous rule the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people mourn”. ( Prov. 29:2)
I’m not advocating that we go to war with Russia. What I am dreaming and declaring is that we raise up a righteous government. A President, Congress, a circle of Joint-Chiefs who honor God with unity, careful strategy, and then execute a wise plan. Only then, move forward with a military filled with those committed to the “love of God and country” to move forward with authority and confidence.
For too long have we sent our finest into harm’s way for some politically divided, poorly planned, ego-driven mission based on poor intel at best and known lies at worst. Then after years of sacrifice, trillions of dollars, and countless widows and orphans, our heroic veterans return home with no clear victory.
When ancient Israel followed God’s leading, they would fight and win wars without losing a single soldier. And when they did, they repented and asked God why? In our nation, we have a simple choice to make. Are we a nation that has forgotten God, or a nation where the righteous rule?
We have a lot of work to do but I believe we can get back where we belong. There is a huge difference in outcome between a nation that forgets God, and one that honors God. Our history is being written now. In a hundred years, what will it say about us?