With, arguably, the most critical election in America’s history just days away (or hours away) our current President, Barack Obama, may be on the verge of a test like few other world leaders have ever known. In fact, it may have already begun.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin shocked the world when he sent a naval task force toward Syria — through the English Channel! It was an obvious show of strength and belligerence against the West.
Seven Russian warships escorted Russia’s only aircraft carrier right through the famous Strait of Dover, within sight of the storied white cliffs.
By sending the carrier group to Syria, Putin is strengthening his presence in the Middle East. The Russian and American militaries are both active in Syria, but make no mistake, Russia is in charge.
The Russian task force joins warships from Russia’s Black Sea fleet that have been dispatched to the Mediterranean carrying nuclear-capable missiles.
Russia has also sent nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles to the region bordering Poland and hundreds of paratroopers for military exercises in Egypt. They have suspended three separate nuclear agreements with the United States.
Last summer, President Putin warned journalists that “the world is being pulled in an irreversible direction.”
The Russians have also just completed a “nuclear war drill” that involved 40 million people practicing ways to survive atomic war.
Is Putin actually preparing for war with the United States? Is he sending a message to President Obama? How will the President handle increasing Russian aggression in the waning days of his administration?
That’s his big test.
But there’s an even bigger question. Why? Why is Putin testing Obama and why now?
Although President Obama is already considered a “lame duck” President — since he cannot serve another term — after Tuesday’s election, his lame duck status grows even more acute.
Is Putin testing Obama to see if he will wilt under the pressure of a nuclear ultimatum? And if Putin decides he will, then Obama and the United States may get a nuclear ultimatum, and probably before the end of the year.
It will be disguised as something else, but it will be real.
With this President, Putin may see an opportunity for a world-changing moment. He seems to be testing Obama’s resolve right now. If he fails the test, it may invite nuclear blackmail or even World War III.
In 1962, God used a profane, deceptive, and womanizing President to save civilization as we know it. His name was John F. Kennedy.
That moment of truth became known as the “Cuban Missile Crisis.”
At the time, most Americans understood that the U.S. and the Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war. We now know that they were closer than anyone at the time realized.
Information discovered after the collapse of the Soviet Union revealed that the commanders on the ground in Cuba already had battlefield nuclear weapons and were authorized to use them if necessary.
Some of Kennedy’s top military advisers encouraged him to make an all-out assault on the nascent Soviet military sites on the island. Had he done so, it would have triggered the use of those weapons and the nuclear dominoes would have fallen fast all over the world.
But for the hand of God in that crisis, you and I would probably not be here today.
We now know that the choices President Kennedy made in that critical time were influenced by a book called The Guns of August. It was Barbara Tuchman’s examination of the events and decisions that triggered World War I.
We also now know that Ms. Tuchman’s historical assertions were largely incorrect in that book, based on new information about Germany discovered in recent years.
However, even though her history was wrong, the lessons she taught were perfect for President Kennedy in 1962.
There was tremendous danger in showing weakness, so the President couldn’t let the Soviets establish nuclear launch platforms in Cuba. But in resisting the Soviets, he couldn’t let a mistake trigger a sequence of events that would have caused the world to descend into nuclear chaos.
So he took a middle ground and imposed a naval blockade of Cuba. Long story short, it worked.
God used an imperfect man and a history book with a flawed thesis to prevent a war that would have devastated the planet.
In the early 60s, Americans understood the nuclear threat and Christians prayed for Kennedy on a regular basis. When that book fell into his hands, it was an answer to prayer.
Even if you think a President — or other leader — is wrong on every issue, the Bible admonishes us to pray for that person. There is powerful evidence, both Biblical and historical, that God’s intention is for us to pray for our leaders so that we may lead “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (I Timothy 2:2 NASB)
In a few days, we will be given the opportunity to choose our next group of national, state, and local leaders. In our time, when the alternative to peace is so unthinkable, our incentive to pray doubles.
The Bible doesn’t say you have to approve of the leaders’ policies. It says, unequivocally, to pray for them. Pray that they will see the light where they are wrong and repent. Pray they will be given wisdom and good judgment. Don’t pray for the success of wrong or sinful policies, but do pray for the men and women who lead us.
Pray for the upcoming election. Pray that those elected will have an awareness of God; and that they will find good advisers with godly morals. Pray that God will send His Word into all their lives — now more than ever.
We have entered one of the most dangerous periods in world history. So vote! And pray!
Here is another report from CBN showing the growing war of words between Russia and the West.
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