Dangerous Illusions

Dangerous Illusions

As decadence, decay and internal civil strife sapped the vitality of ancient Rome, hostile nations cast lustful eyes at her vast treasures. The typical Roman citizen never dreamed that serious danger threatened them. "These gentlemen of leisure could not quite believe that the Roman world was in serious danger" (Peter Quennell, The Colosseum, p. 73). In their minds, a nation as big, strong and powerful as Rome was could not possibly fall. Their mistake was looking back to their past greatness and ignoring the reality of their present condition and the threat confronting them.

In 476, Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of Rome, was driven from his throne by the barbarian Odoacer and his followers. "Yet even then during the closing days of the empire, as their world collapsed around the, the Romans would appear to have retrieved a sense of their own invincible superiority" (Ibid. p. 80).

Such is a thumbnail sketch of many contemporary Americans. Politicians, academics and media spokespersons should know the danger we face. Many of them close their eyes, shut their ears and refuse to accept the reality. Acknowledging such danger just doesn't fit in with their agenda. Many ordinary citizens are consumed by materialism, sports, entertainment and pleasure. They have little interest or time for such heavy matters as accountability to God, national integrity and survival. They operate on the faulty premise that all things will continue for America as they have from the beginning (II Pet. 3:4). Nations are much like people. They are subject to injury and disease. They can be attacked and killed. They can grow old and die.

May God open our eyes that we can clearly see the danger before us and the faith and conviction to be diligent in calling our fellow-citizens back to God, our only hope for safety and security (Mal. 3:7).

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