We as a nation have been blessed beyond measure. We’ve been blessed by God with a wondrous country of immeasurable natural beauty from the rugged, craggy coastlines of Maine and Oregon to the towering majesty of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon and the amazing beauty of Zion and Bryce Canyon  to lush green valleys and crystal clear mountain lakes and streams. We  live in a land of magnificent beauty. We can see the handiwork of the Creator at every turn (cf Psa. 8). 

     But, as glorious as all the wonders of God’s creation are, we have much more to be thankful for than just the natural wonders of this great land. Tomorrow we celebrate as we remember the establishment of the United States of America as a new, free nation, where men were at liberty to worship God in their own way, Our forefathers recognized the importance of the Creator as an active and dynamic power intimately involved in helping this nation become a lighthouse and refuge to the world and to open its harbors “to the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”  Understanding that we truly are “one nation, under God” has unified our people and enriched this nation’s spirit for close to 250 years. 

     It was that yearning to be free that brought millions of refugees from every nation on earth streaming to our shores to forge this nation as a melting pot of incredible diversity.  United by a divine spirit of concern for the condition of all mankind, this fledgling nation grew in strength and affluence to become the leader of the free world. We are blessed by the police and firefighters who risk their lives to protect lives and property. We are blessed by the military men and women who serve to protect this nation here at home and in far-away lands, risking their lives to preserve our way of life, our freedoms, and our national sovereignty. We are blessed by every person who is ready to stand tall for freedom, the freedom of our own citizens and the citizens of far-off lands who may not be able to achieve that freedom without the help of others. 

     We are a land of great blessings–in beauty, in resources, in bounty, in benevolence toward others in their times of crisis from war, disease and natural disasters. We are a land of tremendous opportunity and choice. We have been truly blessed, and for that, our Father in heaven, we thank You!

     So, just what has been–and is–the secret of our great nation being so blessed?  And how can we continue to be blessed?  God has promised to bless that nation “whose God (Elohim) is the LORD (Jehovah)” (Psa. 33:12). The Christian foundation of our nation is the first secret to our nation being so blessed. Both religious and political persecution motivated colonists to leave the security of civilization to embark on a mission to carve a “Christian commonwealth” out of an unknown and hostile wilderness. The purpose of the New England colonies was to establish worship free from control of the state and to establish a governing body run by Christian principles. 

     The second reason for our nation being so blessed goes all the way back to the covenant God made with Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3 where God said, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (v. 3).   Through Abraham came the nation of Israel. Harming God’s “chosen people” is like “striking the pupil of God’s eye” (Zech. 2:8 cf Dt.  32:10).  Our nation has been blessed for our support of the nation of Israel.

     A third reason our nation has been so blessed is because of our history of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to foreign lands through our missionary outreach.   In Rom. 10:13-15, Paul, quoting from Isa. 52:7, writes: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!”  Hundreds of Bible schools and seminaries and mission organizations were established in our country to equip men and women to help fulfill the Great Commission by taking the “Good News” to the remotest parts of the earth. 

     So, how can our nation continue to experience God’s blessing? IF we continue to be a nation united under God, a nation that seeks His wisdom and guidance, a nation led by men and women of integrity and courage who make God’s Word their final authority for faith and practice…and IF we will continue to support the nation of Israel–to be her ally against terrorism and attempts by other nations to destroy her…and IF we will continue spreading the Gospel of Christ throughout the far corners of the globe…THEN we will continue to experience God’s blessing.  

     But, we see erosion in all three areas.  As Christians we’d best awake from our sleep and once again be salt and light in our society or it will go the way of all countries when they forsook or ignored God.

     “Dear Father, today, we praise You and thank You for all Your mighty works. We thank You for the many blessings You shower upon us, individually, as families, as churches, and as a nation.  We pray that we will again put you first in our hearts and first in our allegiance.  Forgive us for the times we’ve let the noise of the world keep us from listening to You. Today, let us renew the pledge of our forefathers. Let us forever remember that we were founded by men and women who fled tyranny, oppression, and spiritual poverty with the hope and prayer that they would be able to forge a free nation here in America.  Let us dedicate our lives to the very principles they had, Christian principles for creating a new land where free people can realize the dignity and value of every human life and where God is freely and openly worshipped as the Creator-Redeemer and live by the principles He’s taught to His children for more than 2,000 years.  AMEN!” (Anon)

Happy Independence Day

Forever His,

Pastor Dave