Faith Through the Journey

Having just spent a week listening to many stirring, positive speakers reminding us of how great America is, patriotism is and will be, front and center in my thoughts for the next 2 months. One of the greatest gifts we have been given is a godly heritage as the foundation of this blessed land. The Declaration of Independence reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” After enumerating the colonies’ grievances against King George of England, the signers resolved, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” These brave men understood that what they were undertaking was earth-shattering; once they put their names on that document, they were marked and could lose everything they valued except their sacred honor! That meant more to them than whatever they might lose, including their very lives. If called upon today, would we be willing to do the same? Or have we moved so far from understanding that we are dependent on divine Providence, forgetting that we as a nation were created,and have known the favor and protection of, Almighty God? It seems as though public mention of God and references to Him are being systematically removed from the American landscape. If we do not continue to remind succeeding generations about our godly heritage, this knowledge will be lost and we will end up as a totally secular society, having forgotten our very special roots.

The Bible tells us about another nation that neglected to pass on the truth about its heritage. When Israel had gone into the Promised Land, each tribe dispersed to the land that was given to them. Judges 2:10 says: “Eventually that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work He had done for Israel.” That nation, the population of the people of Israel, soon became just like the people among whom they settled. They did evil in the eyes of God, and their fate was described as follows: “In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing.”

We are still a nation of laws, and God’s name hasn’t yet been expunged from our currency or our founding documents. We still say “one nation under God” as we pledge allegiance to the flag that symbolizes our land. In times of crisis, we still plead for God’s protection and blessing to rest upon us. God’s grace has not vanished from the American landscape, nor will it as long as His people still seek, and listen, to Him. Isaiah 55:6-11 says: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake His way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'”

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and decrees that I am giving to you this day…”