What does the fate of a country depend upon?

What does the fate of a country depend upon? Many respected scholars believe the answer is military power, geographic setting, neighboring nations, etc. A somewhat smaller number cite such factors as sense of purpose, stability of basic institutions such as the family, or religious ideals.

But there is a surprising factor mentioned in the Bible. It concerns the fate of the city of Sodom, which was accused of “grave sin”. When the patriarch Abraham found out that the Lord God planned to destroy the city for wickedness he pleaded, “Suppose there are 50 righteous within the city; wilt thou then destroy the place and not spare the 50 righteous who are in it?” (Gen. 18:24) And God said He would spare it for the sake of 50 righteous people. Abraham, fearing that there would not even be 50, finally obtained a promise that God would spare the city for 10 righteous people. But God could not find 10 righteous people.

So a few people have the potential to change the destiny of a city. And history even shows that a few people can greatly influence a nation. A few thousand Bolsheviks grasped the tide of the 1917 Revolution in Russia and soon gained control of the country. But in a time of national crisis, how can the course of events be changed for the good? In a time of crisis in America, Rev. Sun Myung Moon announces, “The crisis in America today can be overcome. We must rekindle our faith in God and reunite ourselves in love. America’s destiny is inseparable from the destiny of the world.”

At the dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem, God warned Solomon of trouble if the nation turned away from God. But He gave this promise, “If my people who are called by my name 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.” (II Chron. 7: 14) This same promise holds true today, for America, for any nation in trouble. The people cannot blame their leaders alone. All must join. “Let us unite in the spirit of forgiveness,” Reverend Moon pleads. “Unite in the spirit of love. Now is the time for national repentance.”

And America is responding.