There Is No Fear of God in This Land

About fifteen years ago, a friend invited me to attend a fund-raising event. We were involved in a jail ministry in our town, and the event was benefiting a jail ministry in a town about two hours from us. That neighboring jail ministry had been very successful. My friend thought we could see what they were doing and see if it would be helpful for us. It was one of those things that you agree to, but as the day gets closer, you wish you hadn’t.

As the day approached, I thought, Why did I agree to do this? This is going to be a waste of time. I could be relaxing at home. Well, the day came, and four or five of us headed out to the banquet. All the while, I was thinking, Why did I do this?

We arrived at the location, and it seemed like a pretty big deal. The banquet room seemed to hold about a thousand people, and the room was filled. We sat down, and the program began. First came the meal, then the program, and then the appeal to donate to the ministry. The meal was fine, and the program began. There was a pretty impressive introduction of the dignitaries in attendance: judges, congressmen, the police chief, the sheriff, the mayor, councilmen, and on and on. It seemed like every leader in the area was there.

I thought, Can we please go home?

After a few more remarks, a little old lady was introduced as the main speaker.

Oh, boy. I guess she is going to tell us how she makes cookies for the inmates. Can we please go home now? Why did I agree to do this?

She made a few introductory remarks, and then she stopped for a moment and said very firmly and very slowly, “There is a problem in our country, and the problem is this: there is no fear of God in this land!” She hit the podium as hard as she could. Bam! Absolute silence filled the room. You literally could have heard a pin drop. It is one of two times in my life when I have experienced prolonged, absolute silence in a large crowd. It was as if the presence of God had filled the room. When that happens, you don’t move.

Like the rest of the crowd, I was stunned.

She said, “If we think we are immune from the judgment of God in this country, we have another thing coming.” She continued with a powerful message of repentance and of our great need to return to God.

I thought, Lord, if you could forgive someone as sorry as me, I would be very grateful. I have just heard one of your choicest servants, and I was making fun of her and wishing I was not even here. Please forgive me … again.

That night has always stayed with me. She was right. There is no fear of God in this land. Oh, I know. I read that 75 percent of us consider ourselves Christian, but no one can seriously suggest there is a fear of God in our land. Our land is increasingly desirous of moving away from any mention of God, any reference to His Word, and any connection with His Son—let alone falling down and worshipping Him in true repentance and faith.

I told you there were two times I had experienced absolute, extended silence in a large crowd. Let me tell you about the second time.