Author: John Page 162 of 166

Philippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

As American Christians, we have learned about Christ.  If we are truly Christians, then we have received Him.  If we are members of Bible preaching churches, then we have heard about Christ.  If we have God-honoring pastors, then we have seen Christ through others.  So what have we done to put the learning, and the receiving, and the hearing, and the seeing into action?  Sadly, we have done very little other than take up space in pews while we have passively played the role of an observer.

Since the beginning of the PLUS ministry, I have been particularly sensitive to our lack of action.  I have heard Christians complain about the sad condition of our nation.  I have heard Christians wish that someone else would take the lead to solve these monumental problems.  I have seen Christians resign themselves to living in a country that is rapidly diverging from a Christ-centered foundation.  I have watched Christians surrender to worldly influences.  I have noticed an unwillingness to follow those who do take the lead for Christ.  I have seen little action.

Fortunately, the God of peace stands ready to act alongside of the faithful.  Where are the faithful in America?  Hopefully, they are on their knees imploring God to act in this land; hopefully, they are on their knees begging God for strength to take the first step of faith; hopefully, they are encouraging others to pray in a similar fashion.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD ACT BOLDLY FOR CHRIST.  Without the willingness to do anything about our nation’s problems, then we should not expect tomorrow to be any better than today.  Indeed, things will continue to get worse if we fail to do anything about it.

An old time quote states, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”  In many ways, America has fallen far as we have failed to stand strong on Constitutional principles that had been formed upon a sound Biblical foundation.

Indeed, the Constitution and the Bible are not mutually exclusive.  Biblical principles make up the fabric of our nation’s founding document.  The Founding Fathers saw the crafting of the Constitution itself as a Bible-based miracle.  Alexander Hamilton strongly stated, “for my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which, without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”

Early American government encouraged and supported the importation and subsequent domestic printing of Bibles, recognizing the importance of God’s Word in building the lasting foundation of a thriving society.   Furthermore, early local government relied upon Bibles as an essential part of school curriculum.  George Washington remind us in his Farewell Address that: “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in the exclusion of religious principle.  It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”

It is not a coincidence that drifting from Biblical basics and straying from Constitutional constructs have occurred simultaneously.  As these foundations continue to crumble, so do our nation’s safety, security, and prosperity.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA WOULD RETURN TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS INTENDED BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. Otherwise, the nation will continue to fall.

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Without a firm foundation, one will naturally be tossed to and fro.  As Americans have abandoned the principles of sound doctrine from God’s Word, the nation has lost its steadiness and its direction.  Without an anchor to truth through grounded Christians, America has drifted aimlessly.  The result has been a nation that now lacks fundamental coherence in its core characteristics.

A crumbling foundation has created a nation with policy choices that act at cross-purposes with one another.  We rightfully try to solve an epidemic of sexual assault, while the government promotes limitless lifestyles.  We rightfully try to eliminate school shootings to prevent the loss of innocent life, while the government promotes individual ‘choice’ to slaughter society’s most vulnerable.  We rightfully uplift basic human freedoms around the world, while the government tramples on First Amendment freedoms at home.  We rightfully promote sound stewardship of personal resources, while the government recklessly squanders public resources.  With such natural contradictions, it is no surprise that progress on any front is rare, fleeting, and lacking direction.

Without a Biblical basis to inform our direction, we have lost our way.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA WOULD RETURN TO A BIBLE-BASED FOUNDATION.  Otherwise, we will continue to be tossed to and fro.

Judges 7:2 “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”

The Lord whittled down Gideon’s army from over 30,000 to a mere 300.  Their subsequent victory over the well-trained massive Midianite force left no room for an interpretation other than Godly intervention.  The Lord wanted His people to properly attribute the source of victory to Him.

It is difficult to ignore the Lord’s mighty influence on America’s victory in the Revolutionary War from beginning to end that allowed victory over the well-trained massive British force.  The uncharacteristic weather that protected the early colonist force positioned precariously on the Dorchester Heights shattered the image of British invulnerability.  The thick fog that secured a retreat of Washington’s army kept the colonist forces intact after the Battle of New York.  The early hard frost that prompted General Howe to halt his forces in Trenton for the winter gave the beleaguered colonist army a much-needed respite in a secure sanctuary.  Finally, the unexpected squall that halted the British escape from Yorktown secured the colonists’ final victory.

Conventional wisdom regarding military matchups is turned upside down when the Lord intervenes.  Indeed, earthly power is no match for God’s provision.  PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD HUMBLY RECOGNIZE THE LORD’S INTERVENTION AS THE DECISIVE FACTOR IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.  The Lord makes up the majority in any situation.  We are foolish if we vaunt ourselves against Him.

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

On Memorial Day weekend, it is certainly fitting to give thanks for the men and women who have sacrificed so dearly on our behalf.  They have paid the ultimate price because they have selflessly valued our nation’s well-being more than their own well-being.  It is partly through their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of those who have preceded them, that our nation has remained secure.

Yet, we should never be lulled into thinking that these brave men and women are America’s ultimate source of security.  America is not great because of military strength or diplomatic sway.  It is not great because of economic sustainability or information asymmetry.  It is not great because of geographic separation or resource superiority.  It is only great as long as we remember that the Lord is our true source of greatness.

After several hundred hours in her cockpit, I can personally testify that the F-22 Raptor is an amazing machine.  It is a grand flying chariot propelled by unmatched horsepower.  Even with its dominant characteristics, our nation must not trust in it to secure us apart from the Lord.

Brave men and women are well worthy of a long weekend dedicated to memorializing them.  May we all do so.  Yet, our trust-laden attention should be on the Lord throughout the year.  PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD FULLY TRUST IN THE LORD FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, SAFETY AND PROSPERITY.  We must trust in the ultimate source who is ultimately trustworthy.