California has suffered massive numbers of wildfires every year for decades, typically between 7,000 and 9,000 per year. However, the latest inferno, still smoldering, is the first to destroy thousands of extravagant estates in affluent, urban communities. The media hub of Los Angeles has long been a crucible for the moral corruption of America. Moguls of the entertainment industry have been enriching themselves by producing pornography and promoting a decadent culture for years. California’s state and local governments have punished good and rewarded evil. Are the fires a random coincidence or a predictable consequence?

I anticipate this post will result in some harsh criticism, but I am convinced it will more importantly express what many are thinking. God’s love and grace is beyond comprehension as is His patience. But He is perfect in judgment. Goodness will be ultimately rewarded, and evil will be ultimately punished. The innocent will sometimes suffer from their proximity to those receiving just retribution. My heart goes out to victims of the raging wildfire, and I pray for their lives and their recovery. The humanity in all of us aches at the sight of human misery. But some agony is a part of all life in a fallen world, some is brought on by our own mistakes, some is to test and strengthen us, and some is from providential judgment. Early in the scriptures, God, who showers us with love and mercy, said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.” Numerous times throughout history, even in my lifetime, God’s judgment of man’s persistent evil has been obvious.

In my last post, I shared that I believe America is on the leading edge of a transformation toward a more moral and stable culture. Good people are realizing the hopelessness of our death spiral of debauchery. Our recent election and subsequent events show signs of better times. I also believe God is answering prayers of many people of faith and is changing hearts supernaturally. What He spoke to the prophet Ezekiel pertaining to His people 2500 years ago, applies to us today: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then, they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” I sense He is doing among us what we have not been able to do ourselves–making us realize the futility of our ways.

I believe evidence indicates God is beginning to guide America, and hopefully our world, back to His desired trajectory for us. He is restoring minds and hearts to Himself and purifying (judging) people and places that attempt to counter that movement. Look for evidence that this is happening. I think you will be surprised.