Leaving Behind the Decade of Hell

I simply can’t believe that we are at the end of 2009. Each year seems to be flying by faster and faster. It is even more astounding to me that we are about to enter into a new decade. Ten years have already come and gone in the new millennium—wow!

Entering 2010, and a new decade, has caused me to seek the Lord in prayer to a greater degree than usual. I just finished reading the cover article, “The Decade From Hell”, in the December issue of Time magazine. The article listed neglect, greed, self-interest and deferral of responsibility as the causes for some of the most troubling developments of the decade. In fact, the writer says, “In large part, we have ourselves to blame.”

Listed below is a summation of the events that transpired over the last decade:

• Threat of the Y2K computer meltdown to start the 21st century.
• 2000: Torrential rains and flooding leave more than a million homeless in Africa.
• U.S. presidential election ends in chaos and is resolved by the Supreme Court.
• 2001: Nineteen Islamic terrorists fly hijacked jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000.
• Enron files for Chapter 11, the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history to date.
• 2002: Beltway snipers strike, killing at least 10 people in the D.C. area.
• Congress authorizes U.S. military action against Iraq.
• 2003: Power failure blacks out millions in U.S. and Canada.
• President Bush declares “Mission Accomplished” as insurgency grows in Iraq.
• Earthquake in Iran kills more than 26,000.
• 2004: Tsunami kills more than 200,000 people in about a dozen countries in Southeast Asia and Africa.
• 2005: Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans; levees break; more than 1,500 are killed.
• Earthquake in Kashmir kills some 80,000.
• 2006: Charles Carl Roberts IV kills five girls at a Pennsylvania Amish school, then himself, in one of three school shootings in a week.
• Gas tops $3.00 a gallon.
• 2007: Student at Virginia Tech guns down 32, then himself.
• Senator Larry Craig pleads guilty to disorderly conduct after airport-bathroom gay sex sting.
• 2008: Oil hits record $147 a barrel.
• Dow drops nearly 34% for the year, the worst decline since 1931; S&P is down 38.5%, its worst year since 1937.
• 2009: Chrysler and General Motors declare bankruptcy; government becomes part owner.
• Bernie Madoff pleads guilty to fraud worth an estimated $65 billion.
• World Health Organization says H1N1 flu is global pandemic.
• Unemployment rate hits 10.2%.

I concur. Many, not all, of the problems we have experienced in our nation over the last ten years have been self-inflicted. If it is true that we have just gone through the decade of hell, I want to pose this question:

Have we just experienced the decade of hell because America has continued to turn away from God?

When the people of a nation rebel against and forsake God, they do so to their own demise. For example, after the building of the temple was complete, the Lord warned Solomon about the consequences of Israel’s disobedience. 2 Chronicles 7:19-22 says, "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' "

I am sure many Americans are ready to leave behind the “Decade of Hell”. However, before we do, let’s learn some valuable lessons from the last ten years. If neglect, greed, self-interest and deferral of responsibility continue to be the character traits of American citizens, then we should not expect the negative symptoms to diminish.

I pray the events of the last decade will cause us to humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, seek the Lord and pray. If so, maybe the next ten years can be the decade from heaven. I sure hope so.

Happy New Year!