About 40 miles east of Birmingham is a small town called Riverside. The name is appropriate; it sits on the banks of the Coosa River. Riverside is a beautiful place, but most people only see the highway that leads to the boat ramp. Situated right beside the boat ramp is a bar/grill and next to that is a restaurant. All three do a bustling business. The church a few blocks away closed its doors due to lack of interest.
Between the restaurant and the empty church is a billboard with a powerful statement. Unfortunately, it is a real sign maker's nightmare. The total message is so large it forced the print to be too small for people to read as they pass by. My father, a sign maker, would have known better. So what's the message?
2 Chronicles 7:14-Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Knowing this area and its people as I do, I'm sure most patrons of the restaurant, bar, and boat dock agree that our country has some serious problems.
We have politicians and judges who don't listen. Child abuse and murder are daily occurrences, and sometimes go unpunished completely. With abortion legalized, our nation as a whole has become a murderer. While the so-called "people of God" were dressing up for the Sunday morning fashion show Madalyn Murray O'Hair and her small band of atheists were kicking God out of our schools. The bars, strip joints, crack houses, and prisons are full but now our churches are almost empty.
Why did this happen to a nation that was founded on, and because of, the principles of God? Is it His fault? The billboard in Riverside answers those questions. We have forgotten the face of our Father.
Sin is not strictly an individual dilemma. When a country turns its head from wrongdoing, and even passes laws that make it legal, the whole nation sins.
If the sign in Riversider were designed better, would more people realize what we have to do to clean up this mess?
Stay tuned for more on this subject.
If you like this article please see Invest in a faithful relationship and take the first step toward correction.
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