I'm a realist who likes to be positive most of the time, so I say: America can return.
Americans can come back.. can return one (won) by One!
Many might feel like turning away from all the junk that's been happening In our world gone quickly sideways (that feeling would be normal), but it's okay to not ignore it like it's not happening, to be aware.. for prayer.
When Society in this Western World (or Anywhere) Tilts Into Collapse Sideways, God Still Reigns
It’s not strange—nor faithless—to feel the urge to turn away from the noise, the moral confusion, and the spiritual junk piling up around us. Anyone paying attention can feel it: something is off. Our world didn’t drift; it swerved. And Scripture tells us that awareness is not panic—it’s prayer fuel.
Jesus never asked His people to deny reality. He told us to discern the times (Matthew 16:3), to watch and pray (Mark 13:33), and to keep our lamps lit while the night grows darker (Matthew 25:1–13). Awareness without despair is wisdom. Ignoring the moment is not faith—it’s avoidance.
As the old hymn reminds each of us,
“This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through.”
Yet while we pass through, we are called to stand.
A Call Back, Not a Call Out
Scripture is clear: when a nation collapses morally, the first call to repentance is not aimed at pagans—it’s aimed at God’s people.
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Revival has never begun in Washington, the university, or the media. It has always begun on its knees.
Billy Graham once said,
“The greatest need in America is not new laws, but new hearts.”
That truth has not aged.
Franklin Graham has recently noted something both hopeful and sobering: more young people are searching for God, disillusioned by hollow secularism, politicized classrooms, and churches that traded the cross for comfort. Barna research has consistently shown that while institutional trust has collapsed, spiritual hunger has not—especially among Gen Z, who are asking deeper questions than many expected.
Can we pray for a revival, spawning spiritual awakening? Sure, I will too.
You’ve probably heard the words “genuine revival” thrown around a lot on TV or in church circles. But what does that actually mean?
To revive something is to restore it, to bring it back to life from a dying situation.
Picture a classic car, maybe—a real beauty—that’s been fully restored to its original condition. It shines -- stunning! It’s as good as it was when new. That’s what spiritual revival is like—its a coming back to life, a waking up spiritually, and getting back to real life.. living sold out in Chrisst as the Christian life was meant to be lived.
Hope Without All The Hype: What Scripture Actually Says About This Stuff
The Bible actually does not promise us a global, pre-rapture revival that will sweep the whole globe (as many Carismania-preachers like to "prophecy" and preach about). We may earnestly pray for one, an nation shaking 5th Great Awakening—I would love that, and we should pray for people to return with those sincere weeping tears of repentance—but Scripture repeatedly warns that this corrupt world system will grow darker and darker as Christ’s return draws nearer.
“Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse.” (2 Timothy 3:13)
“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
Franklin Graham is no shallow motivational speaker. He speaks plainly: the darkness deepens before the dawn.
That doesn’t mean God stops working. It means He works through faithful witnesses, not favorable conditions.
The clearest picture of mass global evangelism in Scripture comes not before the Rapture, but during the Great Tribulation—through the sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists:
“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 7:4)
This occurs between the sixth and seventh seals (Revelation 6:12–17; 8:1), when judgment intensifies and mercy still calls.
God is always saving—but never on our timetable.
God Is Still on the Throne
Despite the chaos in our world, God has not fallen off His throne or abdicated.
The Gospel must go out -- it still cuts through all the noise and weirdness.
“God’s at work… and God is still on that throne.”
That sentence alone steadies the soul.
Charles Spurgeon once said,
“God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”
Buckle Up, Sport—and Get Back to Christ and His Bible Basics
This is no time for adding to, or watering down.. diluting the Message of the Word in Christianity! Let's live pure and get the Gospel out like Jesus commanded us to.
D. L. Moody warned,
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
A couple of my So Cal pastors also caution and exhorted us to return to Jesus and then live all out for Him. We can rely upon His power to live the life! Chuck Smith Sr. has echoed this in our generation:
“When the church becomes like the world, it no longer has anything to say to the world.”
The answer is not escapism. The answer is repentance, readiness, and returning—to Christ, to Scripture, to the Gospel that saves.
As Greg Laurie puts it,
“God is only one prayer away—but it must be a prayer of repentance.”
A Call to the Altar—Wherever You Are
Franklin Graham said it plainly, and Scripture backs him fully:
“We just need to pray, ‘God, forgive us.’ Repent… and ask God to forgive our nation.”
That prayer begins personally.
“God commands all people everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9). If we get real with God in confession with true repentance, then He will forgive and He will work in us to change us for His glory! As we get in touch, He delights to use us in helping others get in touch with His Son.
Righteous Vertical Connection > Unrighteous Connections In Any Direction
Billy Sunday thundered,
“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
And Billy Graham lovingly reminded millions,
“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.”
God The Father Is Waiting For You To Return.. With His Arms Open Wide -- Come Home. Not Tomorrow, Right Now.
Ruth’s response of faith is a powerful example of how we each are to give full allegiance to God even when we do not know what the future holds. When we surrender to Him, God sometimes will work in unexpected ways to show His power and reveal His love.
If your heart is weary, cold, compromised, or simply tired of pretending—come back to Christ.
If you’ve never trusted Him—come to Him now. If you have already and have drifted away, then return to Him now!
Jesus still saves. The blood still cleanses. The Gospel still works.
“Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Or as one old hymn sings it best:
“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me…”
The world may be shaking—but the Rock has not moved.
Jesus is calling you now (not to a mere flawed human preacher or to some dead religion, or to a certain denomination per se though some are more biblical than others.. but) to Himself.
Returning to God After Drifting Away--It Can Happen
First comes true repentance, then humble, honest confession, the real restoration, and then the renewed fellowship of forever friendship
Right Now, It Can Begin Inside Of You!
It Starts By Turn Away From What The Bible Calls Sin.. By Turning To God.
Now What Would Prevent You From Inviting Jesus In To Be Lord Of All? You Can Invite Him In.. Or Back.. To Rule Without Rival.. As Lord.
Redemption With Restoration Can Arrive After That Lame Cold Distance
God Invites Us to Return To Him Today
James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…”
Zechariah 1:3 – “Return to Me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you…”
Isaiah 55:6–7 – “Seek the LORD while He may be found… let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy…”
Jeremiah 24:7 – “I will give them a heart to know Me… for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”
God’s Readiness To Fully Restore And Bless
1 John 1:7–9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive…”
Psalm 103:12–13 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions…”
Lamentations 3:22–23 – “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning…”
Micah 7:18–19 – “He delights in mercy… You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
God Compassionately Pursues the Wanderer
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Ezekiel 34:16 – “I will seek the lost, bring back the strayed…”
John 6:37 – “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”
Jesus Spoke About Sinners Really Returning
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) – The clearest picture of restoration after rebellion
The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3–7) – God actively seeks the wanderer
The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8–10) – God rejoices over repentance
Luke 15:20 – “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion…”
Who In The NT Drifted—And Then Returned With Repentance To Christ?
1. Peter – Blew It Badly, and Then God Restored After Denial
Matthew 26:69–75 – Peter denies Jesus three times
Luke 22:61–62 – “And Peter remembered… and wept bitterly”
John 21:15–19 – Jesus restores Peter publicly: “Do you love Me?”
Failure does not have to be the final word.. when repentance is real.
2. Thomas – Returned, Got The Doubt Out
John 20:24–29 – Thomas doubts the resurrection
John 20:28 – “My Lord and my God!”
Honest doubt met with honest prayerful humility leads to deeper faith.
3. John Mark – Got Restored Spiritually After Bailing Out.. Quitting
Acts 13:13 – Mark deserts Paul and Barnabas, but returns later
Acts 15:37–39 – Paul refuses to take him again, but later became good friends
2 Timothy 4:11 – “Get Mark… he is useful to me for ministry.”
God can restore usefulness after seasons of real weakness and floundering.
4. The Disciples – Were Scattered, And Then Reunited
Matthew 26:56 – “Then all the disciples left Him and fled..” But they returned to Jesus
Matthew 28:16–20 – Jesus commissions them anyway.. after, not before they returned
Jesus grants true repentance and faith. Free gifts. He redeems and restores in calling us to return to Hmi -- it's not just some ordinary type of relationship.
5. Saul of Tarsus (later Paul the Apostle) – Got Away From The Truth Regarding God In Scripture, Then Became An Enemy, But Came To The Living Word (Jesus)
Acts 9:1–6 – Saul encounters Christ
Galatians 1:15–16 – “God… was pleased to reveal His Son in me”
God not only can restore wanderers returning as they fully repent—He can use saintss to help other people get redeemed in His Son..changing (forgiving) complete enemies of the Cross of Christ.
Don’t Be Drifting Away With Despair, Appropriate A Living Hope!
Hebrews 2:1 – “We must pay much closer attention.. lest we drift away.”
Revelation 2:4–5 – “You have left your first love.. Remember.. Repent.. and do the works you did at first.”
Hebrews 12:1–2 – “Let us lay aside every weight… looking to Jesus the Author and Perfector…”
Need More On This Returning To God? Start To
Charles Spurgeon
“The Lord does not reject the returning sinner on account of his past sins. He delights in mercy.”
A.W. Tozer
“God waits on the other side of our obedience. When we return, we find He never left.”
Augustine of Hippo
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Billy Graham
“The moment you turn to God in repentance, He runs toward you with forgiveness.”
John Newton
“I am not what I ought to be… but by the grace of God I am what I am.”
C.S. Lewis
“Repentance is not something God demands of you before He will take you back; it is simply a description of what going back is like.”
Sup With Kurt's Summary?
Drifting is often very gradual, not so sudden (Hebrews 2:1)
Restoration is vertically relational, not merely emotional like we see on TV (See John 21)
Repentance is a choice to return as you are, not self-punishment, self-flagellation or penance (None can ever earn God's forgivness. Luke 15)
Grace restores the calling, the tender intimacy, and faithful ministry usefulness.. fruitfulness
Joel 2:25 – “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten…”
Do You Need To First Better Understand The Gospel? (Even Now You Can Repent and Become Rooted in The Redeemer for Restoration)
Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” From enemies to forgiven friends.
John 10:28 – “No one will snatch them out of My hand.” He's so able to keep and use you.
Returning doesn’t begin with you trying to clean up your own life unto perfection first. Too many try to clean up their life before they come to God. Nope. Come just as you are. Jesus catches His fish, and then he cleans them so to speak. Sanctification comes after redemption.. and then come His perfection.
It begins with that change of mind and heart inside.. one by one, in that turning to Jesus. Lord, we look for your return.
We'd like that. Use us today while we can witness. Lord, I come back soon - let the Rapture happen—not because I deserve that, but because You are good.
And heaven still rejoices when one person repents and comes Home. The angels throw a righteous party over that happening!
Jesus says, " I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." Luke 15:7 amp
