How America Forsook God in 70 Years — E.A. Johnston

I was standing on a street corner in Dunedin, Florida, reading a Christmas display that was attached to a telephone pole. They were placed there by the Dunedin Historical Society, and they were newspaper clippings honoring our servicemen from World War II.

America's 1945 Public Acknowledgment of God

And as I read this particular newspaper clipping, I stood there in silence and shock, and my heart sunk like a stone as I realized how America has become a godless society. The newspaper was printed May 11, 1945, and it was a proclamation by the President of the United States.

Truman's Proclamation and National Thanksgiving

And I want to read you portions of this proclamation by Harry S. Truman as he announced, and I quote, that the Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion, and with God's help, have won from Germany a final and unconditional surrender.

I will pause there, friends. Notice the President of the United States acknowledged God by saying, we won the war with God's help. Now notice what the President of this country goes on to say, and I quote, for this triumph which we have won, that we as a nation give thanks to Almighty God who has strengthened us and given us the victory.

Did you hear that, friends? The President of the United States said that, as a nation, we acknowledge and give thanks to Almighty God who has given us this victory. America was still a God-fearing country back then.

Seventy years ago, this country still honored the Almighty. Now listen to what Harry Truman announced to this nation when he made this proclamation to the entire country. Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 11th, excuse me, May 13th, 1945, to be a day of prayer.

I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to give an offering, joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won, and to pray he will support us in our present struggle and guide us into the way of peace.

I also call my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory, in witness whereof I have herein, too, set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed, done at the city of Washington, this 8th day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1945, Harry S. Truman.

From National Prayer to a Godless Society

Did you hear that, friends? He said the year of our Lord. He mentioned God. He honored God. That was only 70 years ago in this country. This country, as a nation, honored God back then, looked to God for help, and looked to God for guidance.

There was a fear of God still in the land back in America just seven decades ago. The nation prayed to him nationally. The whole nation went to a day of prayer, seeking the face of the Almighty, unlike today, where we have a God-hating society, a God-hating government, that mocks God today.

America's Loss of Godly and Ecclesial Influence

Listen friends, there was a time in this country, not that long ago, when America still looked to God for help, and to the church for guidance. Look how America has turned her back on God, and how the character of this whole nation has turned away from the Almighty, and how the church has lost her influence upon society.

Do you think that the president of this country today would call this nation to a day of prayer? Would he even acknowledge the Almighty? Would he even say it's the year of our Lord, and give him thanks?

Isaiah's Warning About a Nation That Forsakes God

I am reminded of a passage in my Bible, which depicts how a nation turned away from God, and what became of them, how they sought judgment because of it. Turn in your Bibles, friends, to the book of Isaiah.

We will be in chapter 1. I want to read us verses 1 -9, and as I read us this striking passage of scripture, I want each of us to reflect on how our country has become desolate of God, and stands against God, and may our hearts be grieved over the sad condition about how America has fallen in just seven decades, seven decades, and if this nation does not turn back to God, how she will be destroyed by Him.

Isaiah 1: The Rebuke of a Sinful and Desolate Nation

Hear now is the word of God, and may the Spirit of God attend the reading of His holy word. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken. I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib. But Israel doth not know my people, doth not consider. Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corruptors.

They have forsaken the Lord. They have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger. They are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

From the sole of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in it. But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores, they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate.

Your cities are burned with fire. Your land, strangers devour it in your presence. And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

A Call to National Repentance, Healing, and Prayer

Except the Lord of Hosts had left us unto a very small remnant. We should have been a Sodom, and should have been like unto Gomorrah. I will stop there, friends. How this nation, in this desperate day, needs to go back and turn back to the God of the Bible, and honor Him again.

Seek His guidance. Seek His healing for this nation. And to seek His presence once again in our churches, let us go now to a time of prayer. And may God have mercy on America.