A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Renato Puno, in his recent analysis with what is happening right now in our country said about “moral collapse” in the whole nation. The ongoing scandal on the pork barrel which involved with many of our senators and congressmen and some other public officials is an irrefutable evidence of moral bankruptcy in the Philippines. The culture of corruption is now reaching to its highest peak! What was known to be as the pearl of the orient is now becoming a hub of corrupt leaders from top to bottom. This moral erosion in the nation is pictured out in the Holy Scripture as “terrible times in the last days.” The apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy said, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power, Have nothing to do with them” (2Timothy 3:1-5 NIV). The worst scenario is that this biblical description fits the current situation where the people whom we trust in the government are the ones betraying the confidence of the Filipino people.

It seems like there is no end to this corruption in the government from the national down to the local levels. While the investigation of PDAF scandal is still going on, another scandal which is bigger than the pork barrel comes out in the open which to me is more smelly, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). No matter how the protagonists and antagonists argue for or against this new scandal of DAP, the fact remains that the culture of corruption is moving to destroy us as a nation. The problem of moral bankruptcy in the land is a spiritual problem which could not be addressed by legislation and law enforcement alone. The problem lies in the heart of every human being, and in this case, our political leaders. The Word of God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind” (Jeremiah 17:9-10a NIV). Our leaders should live an exemplary lives for the young generations. From this text, we can see that the heart of every human being is deceitful above all things and totally wicked and the way that this heart be changed is through the power and grace of God expressed in the gospel. The Bible tells us that “Righteousness exalt a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.” This nation may not rise again to greatness and blessings if the trend would reach to the point of no return which means the Filipino nation would be sinking into the abyss of total moral erosion and bankruptcy.

We are groaning and asking our leaders especially President Noy Aquino to call for a national day of repentance and prayer with fasting imploring the grace and mercy of God to flow for this nation. In 2Chronicles 7:14 God says, “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As a nation, let us draw ourselves together to the throne of God and in the spirit of repentance and brokenness of heart, ask our God for forgiveness and healing. May this nation bends its knees to the one and Almighty God specially our leaders and be blessed. Should you want to contact me, this is my email ad: pastorlitopon@yahoo.com or text 09192283370/09157112654. SOLI DEO GLORIA!