FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
Do We See the Desperation of the Hour?
Do We Believe God Is Big Enough to Revive Us?
In the craziness of our lives, our families, our churches, it’s easy to overlook the spiritual climate surrounding us. It is ugly out there, yet I think most of us are somewhat blind to it all, despite being called to discern the times (Matthew 16:3). The question pressing on our hearts should be:
Do we see the desperation of the hour?
The signs of spiritual decay in every facet of society are evident. Churches are shrinking, moral relativism is prevailing, and society increasingly shuns biblical truth. In the face of such overwhelming darkness, it’s easy to feel disheartened. But this is where our faith should be reminding us of an essential truth: God is sovereign.
Do you believe that? That God is sovereign?
Throughout Scripture, God often used times of desperation to awaken His people. In the days of the prophet Isaiah, the nation of Israel was facing imminent judgment. God, through Isaiah, cried out, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Doesn’t that sound eerily familiar today? We live in a culture where evil is celebrated, and righteousness is ridiculed. But God never leaves His people without hope. Even during judgment, He promised a remnant, a group of people who would remain faithful to Him.
Truth be told, the Reformed tradition, of which I am a part, teaches us to view history through the lens of God’s providence. Every event, no matter how dire, is under His control. The spiritual desperation we see around us is no accident – it’s a divine wake-up call, and if you’ve yet to realize it, God is shaking the foundations of our society, reminding us that He alone is the source of life and truth. The question is, are we paying attention?
In times of spiritual decline, we might wonder if God is still willing to move in power.
Well, He is! The Bible is filled with examples of God reviving His people when they turned back to Him. One of the most powerful examples is found in the book of Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel stood in a valley full of dry bones – an image of utter hopelessness. God asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:3). Ezekiel’s response was one of faith: “O Lord God, You know.” And then, God did the impossible – He breathed life into those dry bones, and they became a living army.
This is the God we serve!
The God who can bring life to what is dead, hope to what is hopeless, and revival to what seems beyond saving. The Reformed faith emphasizes God’s sovereignty and His ability to accomplish His purposes. If God could revive a valley of dry bones, He can certainly revive us today.
While we trust in God’s sovereignty, we are also called to be instruments of His revival. The Apostle Paul reminds us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). We must seek God earnestly, pray for His Spirit to move, and live lives that reflect His holiness.
Men of Forge, revival begins in our own hearts. Are we broken over our sin? Are we desperate for God’s presence? As we humble ourselves and seek His face, God promises to hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The hour is indeed desperate, but we serve a God who is infinitely greater than the challenges we face. Let us not lose hope, but instead, cry out to Him for revival. God is more than able to breathe new life into our hearts, our churches, and our nation. The question is not whether God can revive us, but whether we believe He will.
May we, like Ezekiel, stand in faith and declare, “O Lord God, You know,” trusting that He is faithful to fulfill His promises.
To the Kingdom.
Joe Bouch
