The Great Russian Experiment

“Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all might lie down in safety.”

                                                               Hosea 2:18

         Recently, I was in an international gathering of young people. They were from all over the world with so many stories to tell. I listened in as a young Russian man was discussing the wonderful city and the accomplishment of their hard work. I then I was reminded about what the Russian people had gone through.

         The Russians had a godly heritage so many years ago. There are so many buildings and artifacts that speak of a faith that endured. They had leaders who spoke of God upholding their nation and asking for His hand in their lives. They had hope in the living God.

         But things changed. God was cast out in the Russian culture. The powers that be decided that God was not relevant and it was by their hand that things would be accomplished. Maybe they felt that life was unfair God was too long in laying down justice. They humanized their society by removing all religious references and undertones. They put their hope in themselves alone.

         What did that do for the Russian people? You tell me. It is a depressed and sad place. It is a struggle to survive and strong people are being worn down until they are discouraged. That discouragement for many has produced apathy and hard hearts. They have gone back and forth trying to make a name for themselves, trying to accomplish something of significance so they will be remembered. They have to boast on themselves because God is no longer the drive behind what they do. There is an emptiness that has to be filled with something but it isn’t working.

         This is what some want for our country? They think God is irrelevant and that He isn’t doing what we think He should for our country. Get rid of religion, the opium of the people, and we will be free. Somehow of another God and His people are the cause of all of our troubles, so why not get rid of the problem? People are getting bitter and frustrated because things haven’t gotten better. “Where is God”, they might be saying, “and why hasn’t He fixed our problems, now?”

         Are we not seeing that we have a perfect example of what NOT to do? I pray that we will end up being the very thing we don’t want to be: a people without hope, freedom, and purpose. Without God nothing is possible. You can have hope in hope but what is that? You can have change but change to what?

There has to be a center to focus on. There is only One upon whom we can rely. It’s not a just a good man with good intentions. With God all things are possible. He can cease the problems and the struggles. Well, He uses these to help us grow and overcome. Without God we are without hope, truth, and love.

Think about it. Maybe we can, not only see our nation turn around, but help those who have failed at their social experiment. God is a god of grace and second chances.