The words of Jesus have never had more meaning. “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt. 12:25). Those who fully understand the impact of the Lord’s words can see that the clouds which are all around us are just a foretaste of the coming storm.
Our nation is divided. We are divided politically, but this division is so meaningless when compared to the other divisions which permeate our land. Of far great importance is the moral division among us. The definition of sexual perversion used fifty years ago no longer applies to us. That which was once perversion is often the common practice in our culture today. Paul described the decadence of the Roman world. “Those who practice such things…not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:31). The Roman world is now our world!
Our homes in this land are divided—even in many homes where parents outwardly embrace Christianity. The psalmist was not talking about a physical building when he said, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psa. 127:1). He was talking about our families, our homes. Unless the Lord builds our homes, we labor in vain! What has happened in this land? The creator who ordained marriage and the home is ignored. We have decided our own ideas about marriage are far better than anything He said.
To show the division in our homes, consider the following questions. Has there ever been a time when husbands were more selfish and self-seeking? What has happened to those words spoken in the sinless world of Adam about his wife being “…bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”? Paul said that no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourished it. Yet, when men fail to see their wives as their own flesh, there is no nourishing and cherishing.
Think of how so many wives would inwardly cringe when told they must honor and reverence their own husbands. These words were the precise words God gave to them (Eph. 5:33). Yet, we live in a time when wives openly mock their husbands.
Our homes are divided over the values we impart to our children. They fail to see parents having the church first in their lives, and manifesting that the whole duty of man is to fear God and honor him (Matt. 6:33; Ecc. 12:13).
When nations are divided, desolation lies ahead. When homes are divided, they will not stand. What can we do? What is the solution to all of this? The answer is found in each of us humbly recommitting our devotion to God in relationship to self, to our nation and to our homes. God help us!