My pastor has been talking a lot lately about “flipping the script.” 

In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus was known for his persecution of Christians. Acts 9:1 says, “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.” Saul’s intent was to round up Christians and eliminate them. In fact, he was on his way to Damascus for that very purpose when God intervened in his life. 

When we come to Christ, we have the opportunity to change our story, or get a do over.

Not only did God change Saul’s story, he even changed his name. Saul became known as “Paul,” who wrote much of the New Testament and helped build the church. The man who was vehemently against God became a man who endured persecution and eventually was beheaded for his work in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He became the complete opposite of the man he once was.

I, too, was able to flip the script of what people knew about me. I entered college in 1968 answering the call to become a youth pastor. But the distractions of the world lured me away and I turned from God. Over the next 26 years, I ran from him and did many things that were ungodly. My story became one of divorce and sin. But God tracked me down, and in 1993, I turned back to Christ. With his help, I was able to change my story. 

In the same way, our country needs to turn back to its original calling. America’s founding fathers made a covenant with God to be a Christian nation and to be a voice for freedom and godliness all over the world. But somewhere along the line we’ve gotten off track. But God is calling us back. He’s calling us to change our story, to “flip our script.” He’s calling us to become radical for him once again. He’s calling us to turn back to him and to renew the old covenants our forefathers made with him. 

This will require the church of America to stand. No more can we afford to be passive, sitting on the sidelines watching. 2 Chronicles 7:14 reads, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

In order for God to restore America, he must first change the story of the church of America. It’s time for us to humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s face. It’s time to renew the old covenant and allow God to flip our script. I believe America can, and will, be saved. 

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