In this year 2026, I grieve over my nation. I grieve over the United Kingdom.
There is hardly anything that seems to be functioning well. Debt, both public and private keeps mounting. Our nation owes eye watering amounts to other nations and financial institutions, and ordinary people are struggling to put food on their tables.
We seem to have lost our moral compass. Gangs go on shop lifting sprees, litter festoons our streets and countryside, drunkenness and drug addiction are rampant, and pornography is watched by a large percentage of the population, even in the Church.
The Metropolitan Police in London rejoice that the number of murders has fallen, yet stealing of phones on the streets has become an epidemic, never mind knife crime.
As a nation, we seem hell-bent on killing horrible numbers of babies through abortion and we seem to constantly discuss in parliament and elsewhere ending life through assisted suicide.
Incidents of antisemitism are rising, and Jews no longer feel safe. Huge parades of pro-Palestinian supporters march shouting antisemitic chants, celebrating the killing of Jews and support for lawless antisemitic terrorist groups.
If we believe the news, criminals are arriving in Britain to carry out their misdemeanours in ever increasing numbers with the authorities unable to stop them arriving or dealing with their felonies or deporting them when they are convicted.
Freedom of speech is being opposed everywhere.
Is there any hope? Can anything turn this dreadful state of affairs around?
Even the statistics in the report of a quiet revival have been questioned, yet many churches are reporting an ever-increasing interest in Christianity. Church attendance is rising; more people are being baptised and there is a growth in the number and attendance at Alpha courses. But is this enough? Can this change things? Is there any hope?
The answer of course is ‘Yes’.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world is the answer. The root cause of all I have described is sin; man’s wilful turning his back on the Creator of the Universe. Yet this same awesome God has provided the answer in his Son, Jesus. He died to take all the sins of the world upon himself and to redeem mankind. He will return, overthrow every opposing evil and create a new heaven and a new earth for redeemed mankind to dwell on.
In the meantime, what can we as Christians do? Jesus and the Church are the hope of this nation. We must preach the Gospel anywhere and everywhere. There is no one who is outside or beyond the reach of the Son of God. There is no sin that he did not deal with on the cross, except the wilful turning away and rejecting of his free gift of salvation, paid for by his sacrifice.
Then the Church must be proactive in not just preaching the Gospel but bringing the Kingdom. There is no shortage of resources in the Kingdom and God freely provides the wisdom and strategy to bring the Kingdom in the hardest of areas.
I am proud that the Church does so much to help their communities through their charitable activities but there is so much more. There is a call to take the Gospel with signs and wonders following. Paul wrote: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4: 20. Jesus did extraordinary miracles and calls us to do the same.
Jesus miraculously fed 5000 people. Can the Church do the same?
Jesus healed the sick, lame and blind. Surely the Church could and should do the same?
Jesus delivered those troubled in mind and spirit by evil forces. The Church must surely follow his example and see those battling with mental illness set free.
Jesus helped Peter and the fishermen after a fruitless night’s fishing to have a miraculous catch of fish. Of course, he was making a spiritual point but surely those whose businesses are struggling can see them turn around under the wisdom and instruction of God.
Jesus miraculously helped Peter and himself pay their taxes. There has to be a lesson here for the Church.
Nothing is impossible for God and therefore nothing is impossible for the Church. But this will only happen when Christians live the life of surrender to the ways of Almighty God and follow the verse we know so well.
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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7: 14
Britain has a destiny and calling and it is not to live in sin, our moral compass pointing upside down, people bound by addiction and our communities overrun by lawlessness and crime. The United Kingdom is called to be a light to the nations, to take and finance the Gospel in the Great Commission. This nation led the way in times past, and it is time to take up our mantle again, to boldly proclaim that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world.
There is a solution to all our troubles, but it starts on our knees – if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray … Let’s rise to the challenge and see Jesus exalted in our land, a mighty revival sweep our nation and all that opposes the Kingdom overthrown.
