SIMPLER DAYS

 

When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice: but when the
wicked beareth rule, the people
mourn.
Proverbs 29:2

Do you, like me, long for some former days when things were more simple and uncomplicated? I consider it a privilege that God has allowed me to live through several phases of history both in our country and in the world. There are those who feel that today is the best there could ever be. I personally believe despite of all of the immoral messes we find ourselves in, that each day we live is the most important. Our hope would be to have authority in place in various areas of government who are righteous...persons of integrity and spiritual strength. Unfortunately, despite many wonderful moral and godly persons who hold various offices of public service, we still find ourselves in trouble.

Where have we gone wrong? I've thought lately about some simpler times I have lived through when life was less complicated, a time when in our country there was a general spirit of trust, honesty and yes, spiritual integrity. One day, I sat down and wrote a poem of such a time that reminded me of mornings when the dew covered the grass and children could hardly wait to get outside and play. Check your neighborhoods these days and see how many children you see outside playing. That's all we had to do when young. The play was simple and fun, but even in our play, we practiced a certain level of morals. For instance, take a look at Roy and Dale.

ROY (Rogers) AND DALE (Evans)

The sun couldn't come up too early

For cowgirl and restless cowboy.

Lots of bad guys needed catchin'

Folks counted on young Dale and strong Roy.

With wide-brimmed hats and rope on belts

And homemade six shooter gun.

There wasn't narry a bad man

Dale and Roy couldn't keep on the run.

They ran through Mrs. Britton's backyard

That had ever so slight of a hill.

They galloped on down the alley,

Pretend horses running at will.

By end of day, pretend horses were tired

So were strong Roy and young Dale.

Every bad guy in the neighborhood

Either fled or were in pretend jail.

Lessons were learned from such playing

Reinforcement of wrong and what's right

You knew who the bad and good guys were

You knew the dark from the light.

Our culture is quite different now

Many a soul up for sale.

Perhaps we need turnin' to days long ago

Of strong Roy and a cowgirl named Dale.

The bottom line is that we can't return to those days, but there is hope. We know that Jesus is our only hope on any given day in any given situation. However, our society didn't come to where it is over night. There was a slow drifting away from God and truth. Could we ever have thought we would be facing some issues we are facing today. Now we have to be careful about what public bathroom to enter, children walking home from school alone, scandals of all sorts among government officials and who would have thought we would see scandals among religious leaders.

Where do we begin? Believe it or not, the problems we are facing now began in the hearts of individuals in every walk of life, people like you and me. Somewhere along the line, there were those who basically turned their eyes away from a Savior who loves them. Americans in general in the days of Roy and Dale knew who Jesus was and even what He had done for each person. Nothing will improve for anyone until we get back to the things of God.

So we begin with you and me. I cannot be spiritual and moral for anyone other than myself. I can't force spirituality on my family or friends let alone anyone known in society or government. Individually, we have let down Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty, but more than anyone other than godly ancestors is God Himself. Our only hope for our country is we individuals, dedicated to living godly lives in the power of God's Holy Spirit. A home, community and country can be changed one by one as we live as God desires, making decisions that are morally and spiritually pleasing to the Lord. We'll never have the righteous in authority without a righteous people who put them

Roy and Dale are long gone and folks like them. Now it's our righteous influence that is so desperately needed, but it depends on you and me to be all for Jesus we can be. Our lives will have influence that folks will sense and that will bring glory to God and righteousness back to our country.

Father, help us to be the influence for You we ought to be. In so many ways, even Christians through time in our country have failed in keeping You in the forefront of their lives. In Your power, help us to be Your people in all we do, with the hope of changing things one person at a time. We love You and pray these things in Jesus' name...Amen