Shiny distractions or something more?

It's hard to avoid the news concerning strange "monoliths" appearing the world over.

There is now reason to believe that the first one discovered on November 18 in the Utah wilderness by wildlife officials counting bighorn sheep had been in place since some point between August 2015 and October 2016.

After the discovery though, it became something of a tourist attraction with people willingly making the trek to find it to take photos with it.  It became a problem when it became clear that the influx of people was causing damage to the landscape and that people were leaving things behind.

A local, now identified as 34-year-old Andy Lewis was reportedly part of a four man team that took down and removed the metal pillar.

But it seems as though copycat monoliths are now all the rage.

First, one was spotted in Romania, on the hills near the ancient fortress Petrodava.  Before too long however, that one too went missing.

Then, as soon as reports began to surface of yet another monolith appearing atop Pine Mountain in Atascadero, California, reports came out that it too had been taken down by a group as they proclaimed, "Christ is King."

But in the spirit of full disclosure, it's not just "monoliths" that are mysteriously appearing and disappearing.

Over the weekend, a 6.5 foot tall "wooden statue" (it was a phallus) was chopped down and removed from the location it had occupied for years on Grünten mountain in Germany.  Local police have opened an investigation into the disappearance of what was recognized on Google Maps as a "cultural monument."

So what are we to make of all of this?  Is this the inevitable response of populations being locked down for far too long merely acting out?

I see a spiritual component in all of this.

Throughout Scripture, there are admonitions to pull down and destroy the idols that had been repeatedly set up throughout the land.  During the times when people obeyed the command of God to do so, people's hearts were turning back to Him and repentance was happening- sometimes from the king himself on down. (See: 2 Kings 22 - 2 Kings 23)

In watching some of the hearings that have been taking place in the houses of various state legislatures over the past few days, I am hearing common, everyday citizens boldly speaking the name of Jesus before "august" bodies of officials. I have even seen some of those officials make clear their own standing on matters of faith.

I am not foolish enough to think that America is the end all be all or God's "favorite." But what I do know is that the eyes of the world are watching to see how this election will play out.  I know that everyday citizens are looking to see if there is still hope for freedom or if the proverbial fat lady has sung on this generation.

I'd say there is a wind of change blowing.  People have been fasting, praying, and praying hard.

Our salvation is found only in the Man, Jesus Christ- that is not up for debate or question.

What I am seeing though, is that people are no longer willing to sit on their - as Dr Lake so eloquently puts it- blessed assurance watching the world pass by, but are realizing there's a call to action in these days.  They are finding God-given strength to stand and once standing, to fight.

There are high places all over- whether literal or figurative.  When was the last time they were visited by a child of God with the boldness to pray for His will to be done?

Will you be one of those that are willing to go to those places and pray? To intercede for the people and area where God has placed you?

Let's not just talk- let us put feet to our faith and go.