As a child I remember people talking about atomic bombs and that for the first time in the history of the earth, man had the ability to completely destroy the planet is nuclear conflagration. But I never really worried too much about it - after all, nuclear war would be mutually destructive, and the Russians wanted to live as much as we did.

Now, however, we are dealing with kooks who really don’t care whether they live or not - or if the planet goes up in smoke. In fact, from their religious perspective, it is actually to their advantage if they die while destroying the Great Satan.

And now, everyday, it seems, there is some kind of terror alert warning of possible dirty radiation bombs or chemical biological threat. Bin Laden resurfaces with new anti-American propaganda. North Korea acquires a nuclear missile capable of striking California and actually threatens to take preemptive action. Patriot missiles on mobile launchers encircle Washington D. C. We are clearly dealing with people willing and ready to use weapons of mass destruction if given the opportunity. This is what is new in the affairs of men.

And people are scared. There is a run on duct tape and plastic sheeting. Congressmen exit national security briefings with faces turned ashen. How long before we get hit? How long before new attacks come? What will the attack be and how many will die? What is the probability man will not destroy himself now that we have the means of self-destruction? What are the odds we will manage to contain this awful knowledge without self-destruction, not for a thousand years or fifty years, but just through the lifetime of our children?

We find ourselves on the brink. Armageddon is now a real possibility, yes, even a probability. With such weapons in the hands of so many crazy people committed to destruction, I actually have my doubts if the planet can survive even our generation!

These are the stakes today. As national columnist Charles Krauthammer writes: "We are in a race against time. There is a a real question whether we can win the race... 2003 could be as cataclysmic as 1914 or 1939. The question before is very large and very simple: Can - and will - the civilized part of humanity disarm the barbarians who would use the ultimate knowledge for the ultimate destruction? Within months we will have a good idea whether the answer is yes or no."

What’s a Christian to do? Go to church on the Lord’s Day is a good first choice. And here is a good scripture for the occasion:

Psalm 33

1-3

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for he upright to praise him..."

If we are righteous because of the blood of Jesus and willing to confess our sins so that God can cleanse us, and if we are willing to devote ourselves to living rightly, then it is always appropriate, even in the most frightening and worrisome times, to sing joyfully to the Lord and to praise him. What to do in the face of uncertain times and the threat of mass destruction? Sing with joy and give praise.

4

God is concerned with what is right. His word is right and He is on the side of right. You can count on it. And...

5

God loves righteousness and justice. We can count on him to uphold the cause of the righteous and uphold the cause of justice. So if we are on the side of righteousness and justice, we are on God’s side and He is on ours.

6-9

Atomic bombs are scary. But God is infinitely greater! He made the atom - and created the heavens, the stars and all the energy contained therein!

"Do not be afraid of him who can kill the body. But fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell!"

The Christian position is to "say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

10-11

God is greater than the nations and all the political intrigues of the nations. God is capable of completely thwarting the plans of any of the nations. And all of his plans will certainly come to pass.

As God’s children we are free to ask him for his help in the affairs of men, and we may be assured that He is capable of exercising control over the most secretive and powerful of tyrants and terrorists.

12-15

This principle is crystal clear from scripture and from history. Blessed is that nation (Here is speaks specifically of Israel but secondarily of every nation) whose God is the LORD, Jehovah, the Jewish God whose Name is I AM That I Am. When a nation is made of citizens whose God is the LORD, it is a fact that God will bless that nation.

I know there is much evil in our land. There is much for which we are guilty and should be ashamed and for which we need forgiveness. I know it is not enough to say that we are Christians or to call ourselves Christians or even to say that we are a Christian nation. But it is of great comfort to know that there are many Christians in this country. I can’t help but believe that God is pleased with some of them. If God was willing to spare Sodom for the sake of ten righteous souls, isn’t there hope that He will spare us?

God sees everything and everybody and considers everything we do, and the implication is that He will act accordingly. It only remains for us to be on the side of right ourselves and to live in such a way that God’s blessing will continue to reside upon us.

"... the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined." (Isaiah 60:12)

"... they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law. So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war." (Isaiah 42:24-25)

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

16-17

We are the world’s lone superpower. We have the most capable deadly army and weaponry in the history of man. Contrary to what many seem to think, this does not guarantee anything. What saves us from the enemy? What saves us from defeat? Ultimately? The LORD...

"I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame." (Psalm 44:6,7)

"Woe to those who ... rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD." (Isaiah 31:1)

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5)

18-19

God delivers those who fear him and who hope in his unfailing love... When it comes to national security, our greatest need is for citizens and leaders who fear God and hope in him...

20-22

As we face our own enemies and the survival of our nation is called into question, let this resolve be ours: to exercise trust and hope in the LORD to be our refuge and shield and to trust in his unfailing mercy and love.

Let us pray to him, confessing our sins and calling upon his providence to guide our leaders in the way that will ultimately bring about the greatest peace.

No nation on earth has a history of prayer as does America. It is important that God’s people never forget our duty to pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-3)

George Washington said, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly implore his protection and favor."

Abraham Lincoln said, "It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in Holy Scripture, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."

In 1982, President Reagan said, "To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... We also have his promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that ‘If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

President George Bush carried on this tradition when recently he urged Americans to fervently pray for God’s guidance . "In this hour of our country’s history, we stand in the need of prayer," said Bush. "We pray for wisdom to know and do what is right and we pray for God’s peace in the affairs of men."

Precisely the right prescription for times such as these. Armageddon may be upon us, but putting our trust in God, we should not worry. And we may be sure that God will ultimately bless and protect those who are righteous in Christ and who confess their sins and pray for peace.

Let us pray...