Hi friends!  We’ve just finished up our study, Looking for the Blessed Hope, and I pray you were blessed as we dug deeply into Israel’s past, present, and prophetic future.  One thing is clear: today’s events are lining up with Bible prophecy in ways that cannot be denied.

On the world stage, leaders from around the globe are working feverishly to cobble together a nuclear deal with Iran.  Their self-imposed deadline is today…and I hope you are praying, as I am.  From all indications, the deadline is as likely as not to be extended.  More critically, it is widely believed that if a deal is struck within the next few days, it will not be favorable to Israel.  Any deal that allows Iran to continue its march toward nuclear power is a bad deal, and that seems to be the case.

Several reports (here and here, for example) indicate that Iran has the upper hand, and that the Iranian Ayatollah is calling the shots.  Shamefully, having secured their domestic “legacy” with the vile Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage in America, they appear to be staking their foreign policy “legacy” on an equally vile deal with Iran.  It is highly unlikely that they have the wherewithal to walk away from negotiations with Iran, and highly likely that Iran will put on a last minute “full court press” that will cause the US to cave to their demands.  All for the sake of “legacy.”

But let’s think about “legacy” for a moment.  Yes, the homosexual community trumpets our president and his administration as heroes.  Yes, some consider them “peacemakers.”  Short-term, they will gain notoriety by those determined to call evil good, and good evil. But one day soon, we will all stand before God.  At that time, we won’t have “everyone on our side” present and speaking up for us.  Instead, we will stand alone, and the key question will be:  “Who do you say Jesus is?”  Some may claim to know Him, but Jesus will reply, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, yet do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The only legacy that really counts is that established when we stand before the Lord.

The point here is not to bash individuals…it is to call evil, evil.  It is also to call us as believers to pray for our nation and our leaders.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  (Ephesians 6:12)  Let’s pray that our leaders would seek a Godly “legacy,” that they will turn from wickedness.  In the Old Testament, God changed the heart of King Nebuchadnezzar, a wicked Persian king, because of the faithfulness of one prayer warrior, Daniel!  Indeed, the king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)

When is the last time you prayed for our leaders?  Why not make it a priority. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  (James 5:16b)  Let’s put that principle to the test!