The Pen and The Phone

This morning I was sitting in the neighborhood cafeteria, waiting for some friends to arrive; ink pen in my pocket and phone in my hand. While I waited I watched a little bit of MSNBC, something I don’t do very often.

The topic of conversation was President Obama’s new phrase, “I’ve got a pen, and I’ve got a phone. That’s all I need. I’ll sign orders and rally support.” The commentator explained the president was talking about the tools he can use if Congress doesn’t give him what he wants.

“These are the only tools I need”, said the president.

That’s an amazing statement, and though it’s true, it’s an example of a major issue that’s destroying this once great nation.

And in case you’re preparing for an all out “bash the President” blog, just cool your jets; it isn’t going to happen. It’s not his fault! Nor is it Bush’s fault! It’s America’s fault!

There was a time God used a pen to convey his message to his people, and take the necessary action. It was what the people called for, loud and clear, by their actions. The people practically mandated him to act; and finally, reluctantly, he did.

“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with the point of a diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars.” (Jeremiah 17:1 NKJV)

The mighty, diamond tipped pen was an instrument used to proclaim the nation’s long overdue judgment. They had given themselves over to idolatry, worshipping anything and everything except Jehovah God! Their favorite thing to worship was their own wisdom, cunning, self-importance, and the great name they’d made for themselves. “Who needs God?”, they’d ask, mockingly. “We can write our own marvelous future. We don’t need someone like him to foul up our success!”

God’s reply, with pen in hand, was:

Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.” (Jeremiah 17:5-6 NKJV)

Like a shrub in the desert. Is that today’s America? Even when good comes, the shrub won’t see it. Is that what we have to look forward to?

America, as a nation, has placed itself under the “cursed” heading; the dubious reward for trusting in, and only in, self. America as a nation has allowed its “heart” to depart from the Lord.

Even our nation’s currency has lost its value as a result of its departure from God. The loss is two-fold: the money isn’t backed by a gold standard, nor is the slogan “In God We Trust” meaningful any longer.

But America keeps on flaunting its arrogance and pride before its Creator!

The President has a pen and a phone, which he uses. But that won’t bring about the real change this country needs.

God has used his pen, but offers us his phone.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:6-8 NKJV)

He calls to us, you and I; to whoever will dare listen and believe. A promise of water, fruitfulness, and total blessing belongs to those who will trust in the Lord.

His promise to a nation. His promise to America.

May we humbly respond, using the Lord’s private line to acknowledge our need for him.

He’d rather not have to use his pen.