By Jim Towers
I recently attended the funeral of a beloved younger brother in Lansing, Michigan. The capitol of Michigan has become a depressing place with druggies and alcoholics everywhere, roaming the streets begging for a handout. While driving around and viewing the desolation I stopped in a gas station to buy coffee. While I was inside doing so I watched a downtrodden man picking up food items. As I was paying for my coffee he exited the place with a backpack full of goods without paying.
The night before my youngest brother K.C. and I were at a department store when an older decrepit looking woman and her pimp approached us asking for money to buy an inhaler, supposedly for her asthma. They were obvious druggies looking for a handout to buy drugs. My brother recognized them as such and he refused (which is not in my nature). I’m glad they didn’t ask me. The amazing thing is that so many people can’t or don’t want to see the moral decay, and may even be a part of it.
As I drove or walked the streets of Lansing I realized that they were a reflection of all the major cities in my America, with Washington D.C., our nation’s capitol, near the top of the list for violent crimes. How sad that our country has fallen victim to such demonic influence, all because God has been kicked to the curb. Is it any wonder we are in such a state of spiritual and moral decay?
I remember working on a movie in Flint, Michigan several years ago, and it was already a blighted area. Detroit, where I worked on my next film and a couple of commercials, was also on the skids. I was blessed by being able to stay in a then quiet neighborhood in the mansion that the actor Richard Kiley owned while he was on Broadway portraying Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha.”
Hollywood has also become a haven for Godless weirdos and perverts, and you dare not walk the streets at night for fear of being attacked. In any major city these days you may even find yourself in the middle of a riot or criminal activity of some sort at any time day or night.
I stumbled on these words from Abraham Lincoln the other day and they appear to be prophetic.
“Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up from amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.” – Abraham Lincoln.
We are on a fast track to becoming a third world country. We are like a runaway train without brakes and in spite of the screeching and flying sparks we still haven’t slowed down. Every day now a new revelation of corruption in high places is being uncovered. Justice may or may not be served, but there seems to be no end in sight. Truly, the love of money and power has corrupted our system of government and the church as well. No one can be trusted anymore.
There was a time when the church was a beacon of hope, a voice crying in the wilderness, “Make straight the path of the Lord.” Today the church as a whole has lost her voice, concerned only with numbers of attendees and money.
Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.” He was referring to the rapture. Needless to say, it could happen at any time now. But the way things are shaping up we may have to endure some of the evil that will come with the tribulation period. It’s hard to believe that things could get worse, but according to scripture they will. Maybe as the noose of immorality tightens, people will have to finally cry out in pure desperation, “God help us!”
Those of us who know scripture can determine the signs of the times. With all the earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, signs and wonders we should be able to make the connection and eagerly await the rapture, while sitting on our hands in fear. If ever there was a time to get real, it is now.
God is being kind in delaying the judgment we Americans so fully deserve in disobeying and dishonoring Him.
While on my way to attend my brother’s funeral I had an epiphany that lead me to believe that God’s love for us is limitless. By the time I was approaching Lansing my youngest brother informed me that our brother had died. In my motel room I fell on my knees with tears in my eyes. I prayed a prayer of concern for the state of his soul. We were very close. He liked fishing and camping like I did and he was one of the best baseball players I had ever played with. We both were very artistic. I had witnessed to him for years, but he just wasn’t interested in what I had to say.
We had drifted apart and I hadn’t seen him in years. My brother was not a church-going person, but unknown to me, he had made a profession of faith in Christ years ago. While on my knees I had an “epiphany” (for lack of a better word) in my mind’s eye. There he was standing with Christ Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Say something to your brother.” My brother turned to me and spoke, saying “I’m happier than I’ve ever been,….This is a beautiful place.” He said a few other words and the epiphany ended. I never got to say a word, but I didn’t need to. I let out a sigh of relief, got in bed and fell asleep immediately with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
I saw the movie “Do you Believe” for the second time. It is one of the best written and acted independent Christian films I’ve seen. I especially liked “The Boz” Brian Bosworth.
YBIC
Jim T. Towers