Responsibility.

"You can always tell when you're on the road of righteousness--it's uphill."

-Ernest Blevins

"Right is right, even when everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."

-William Penn

"It seems to me these days that people who admit they're wrong get a lot farther than people who prove they're right."

-Beryl Pfizer

"It is better to be despised for the right than praised for the wrong."

-Meggiddo Message

"Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

-Proverbs 14:34 NLT

"Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any nation."

-Proverbs 14:34 NKJV

I've heard people say, "Those were the good old days." Personally, when I think of the good old days, I lean toward this definition, "The good old days is a combination of a bad memory and a good imagination." I remember those good old days and things are much better now than they ever were but there are some good old things we could still have around today--things that would make America stronger, safer, and saner.

I am well aware that America as a nation had and will always have problems. In the past, however, we seemed to handle everything in the light of man's responsibilities instead of man's rights. Men in America, and most boys too, had responsibilities back then and, as well as I can remember, we didn't talk about rights except when discussing rights and wrongs.

I'm not sure when it all happened but this rights thing has gone completely out of control. It doesn't matter now if something is right or wrong, instead the only concern is the rights of the people. Everybody seems to think only of their rights and what's coming to them. God and his righteousness are no longer factors of the national equation. Those factors have now been replaced with selfishness, rights, and government officials who think the same thing! Our selfish battle cry is, "What's in it for me?" and America's philosophy is now, "That's not fair" and "I want my rights." We've stopped looking upward and started looking inward. The only people many Americans really care about any more are me, myself, and I.

I went to public schools. I began each school day hearing the Bible as it was read by my homeroom teacher, pledging the flag of the United States of America, and praying. Schools don't do that any more. Government has taken that away. According to our country leaders it infringes upon the rights of non-praying students for praying kids to pray. Hmmm, what does that say about the rights of the praying kids? The good news is, Christian kids can pray in school every day, all day! The bad news, of course, is that students have their rights to now buy drugs, watch pornography, get free birth control, get beat up, and watch teachers be assaulted. We are way wrong with our rights!

In search of rights we've tossed out righteousness. In pursuit of pleasure we've abandoned principles. We've jumped ship when it comes to common sense and we've turned our backs on the basics and thrown aside things such as the principle of a hard day's work, the family, do unto others, go the second mile, loyalty, patriotism, purity, dad's responsibility at home, the church, wisdom, and common sense. We've become a nation of selfish and sinful people who are lazy and want what's coming to us but at someone else's expense.

I don't know when America will ever come to its senses again. It's going to take some time and it may never happen. If it does happen it will have to begin with the followers of Christ: You've probably got it memorized but if you don't, take a peek at 2 Chronicles 7:14.

First, we've got to wake up. "If God's people . . . " We've been lulled to sleep thinking all is well if the economy is well. Yes we have! God's people! If something is wrong it's wrong, if it's right it's right. That's it. Call it like it is, not like you see it. We certainly cannot believe the media any more but we can believe the Book!

Second, we've got to look somewhere other than our own well-being. If we will " . . . humble ourselves . . . " Jesus told us that the responsibility of every believer is wrapped up in this command: "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments" (Matthew 22;37-40). Love God, love people. How simple is that! That's humility . . . putting God and others first. That certainly removes the rights issues, doesn't it?

Third, " . . . and pray . . . " "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17). Pray for revival in our churches, government, schools, and homes.

Fourth, forget our rights. " . . . and seek my face . . ." When we seek the face of God we are looking for that close, intimate relationship that brings our hearts in tune with his heart. We forget about what will he do for me!

Finally, " . . . turn from our wicked ways." I wonder how many of us want to respond with, "Who are you talking to God?" He told us who he is talking to in the first part of the verse when he said, "If MY people . . . " He's talking to us.

Finally, God says, "THEN, I will hear from heaven . . . THEN I will forgive their sins . . . and THEN I will heal their land." The formula from the Father to bring America to her feet again begins with getting America on her knees again.

We are feeling the effects of sin in America. God has given us the formula to once again be lifted but it begins with his people. We'd like to blame it on all the bad guys but God says we're the culprits.

"If MY people . . . "