It is apparent to all, low and high, rich and poor, that the nation has fallen very low. People are now ready to speak of the extremity in which our nation is found at the present time. Few are so bold, or irresponsible, as to be optimistic of the eventual outcome, though many hope that the nation will win through. Some will say that the nation has been in precarious situations before and yet was brought through. It would be easy to refer to the dark days following the fall of France in 1940, during the Second World War, when the nation was in a perilous plight, her enemies apparently triumphant and waiting for the opportunity to destroy her utterly, as a time when the nation was in a similar situation to the present. But was it? Then the enemies were without while within the nation was of one mind and heart in resolutely facing up to the dangers that beset her. Now the enemies are not only without but also within. Deadly enemies are active within to destroy the life of the nation. Then the forces poised to destroy the nation were physical forces — the armed might of Nazi Germany, now the enemies are forces of a more sinister and more subtle kind. Then the nation was prepared to recognise that her help must come from God, now no place is given to God. Economically, morally and spiritually the nation has fallen very low. Or rather we should say, spiritually, morally and economically the nation has fallen very low— for that is the order in which the decay has set in. Declension in religion, departure from the living God, paved the way for moral decay, and moral decay produced the causes which have led to our economic plight. If this analysis is correct — and we believe it is — then there is no remedy for our present plight but in a return to God.
How then are we to return to God? It is very clear from God’s Word that there can be no return to Him apart from the Holy Spirit being poured out upon us as a nation in repentance. We must be convinced of our grievous departures from the Most High if we are ever to return. This only the Holy Spirit can do. “When He, the Spirit of truth is come He will convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.” Where there is true repentance there will be an open confession to God of our sins and of our backslidings from Him. Instead of wallowing in the mire of sin and godlessness in which we find ourselves as a nation at present there will be a turning away from sin unto God. We must be brought to see that our present course is one which must inevitably lead to our destruction. What the force and might of Nazi Germany could not do in 1940, self-indulgence, greed and licentiousness is now threatening to do — that is, to destroy all that we hold dear and all that is worthwhile in the life of the nation.
May we be brought as a nation to heed the warnings and calls of God in His Word. “Return unto Me” He is saying, “and I will return unto you.” “Return,” He is saying, “unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our heart.” Let us not think that the feeble remedies at present being tried by our Government are sufficient to avert the catastrophe which our own sin and backsliding has engendered. Let us “lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our help. Our help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121: 1, 2).