America’s Humble Beginnings

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“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.” – Declaration of Independence.

America had a humble and desperate beginning. Our nation’s Declaration of Independence reveals this. Thomas Jefferson, who carefully crafted the historic document wrote, “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” Then Jefferson goes on to list 27 examples of the king’s oppressive governmental rule over America’s 13 colonies. All the signers knew how bold of a statement the Declaration was. They knew its implications, and how it would bring upon them the wrath of the king and the full power of his military, unlike what they had seen up to that point.

Understanding what they were to embark on, Jefferson wrote, “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…” Jefferson and the signers knew they would need the help of the Almighty to withstand the forces of the powerful British Army and Navy. Today, we know the result of America’s Revolutionary War, but on July 4, 1776, when the 56 men signed their names, the future was uncertain. This is why Jefferson concluded with these solemn words, “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.” Though they believed victory was possible, they also knew defeat was too. And they knew both the price of victory or defeat could be their very lives. Therefore, with humble hearts they cited the urgent need for the Lord God’s shield of protection about them.

Without question, America’s founders and their colonies were desperate and dependent on God.

How is America today? We have gone from 13 colonies to 50 states, from a population of 2,000,000 to 330,000,000, from a ragtag Continental Army to the world’s most powerful military, from small agriculture beginnings to the wealthiest of all nations.

God once spoke these words to the nation of Tyre from centuries past, “…by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries…your heart has become proud…” (Ezekiel 28:4,5) America has been blessed and flourished like no other nation in history, but in our growth, our heart has become dangerously proud.

We have risen to say, “Look, see what we have done!” rather than acknowledging what God has done. We have rejected the One who birthed America. We are erasing whatever vestiges of Him are left in our history. We have covered up the godly foundations He laid across all our institutions. Consequently, we have turned from governing by the principles of His Word to governing by the impulses of our corruptible passions. Instead of celebrating uprightness, we celebrate degenerate behavior. Rather than cheering equal justice under the law, we cheer the injustice poured out on our enemies. Instead of championing all that is good, we destroy it and call evil, good.

The pride of America has turned to arrogance, causing us to declare our independence from God. To this God says, “…Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you.” (Ez. 28:7)

This is a warning of God’s judgement if we do not change. He is not blind! He sees all we have done, and in His own time He will act.

Where is America’s hope? God has sent His only Son, that whoever comes unto Him might be saved. Our nation can be rescued, one soul at a time. He is being patient with us, not treating us as we deserve. Let us heed heaven’s warning before it is too late. Now is the time!

A prayer for you – Lord God, we the people of these United States of America, confess our sin. We have strayed from your good and perfect ways. How wrong we have been. We humble ourselves before you in a spirit of repentance. Forgive us O God, for what we have done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Does God Love You? Yes and No

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"All people are loved through God’s benevolence, but only some are loved through His covenant."

As I start this column, I am thinking about the hit television show from years ago, Touched by an Angel. It portrayed a beautiful female angel in the show telling people, “God loves you,” with an Irish accent. I used to love walking around the house and repeating it, just like the angel sounded. 

It is a famous phrase that nearly every preacher in the world regularly lays ahold of and declares to children, youth and adults of all ages. Perhaps you have been told this, or even stated it to others. Often it is used with the non-religious, believing it can warm a cold heart, break down the walls of spiritual resistance or prepare a lost soul to enter into God’s kingdom.

Where does the phrase come from? The Bible, and from one of its most recognized verses, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” And from Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” There are other verses as well.  

There are two kinds of divine love expressed in God’s Word; a benevolent and covenant love. Benevolent love is found in John 3:16. The word for love in the passage refers to taking pleasure in, or longing for. One could rewrite the verse to get a better understanding like this, “For God so longed for the world, that he gave his only Son…” Or Romans 5:8 could be stated “but God shows his longing for us in that…” These verses are more like a description of God’s love toward a general audience, versus a direct statement like we have made it to be. It is a love that expresses His passionate desire for all people to believe in His Son and be set free from their sins. 

Covenant love is found in Jesus’ words to His disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” (John 15:9) There are places in the Bible like this, where God has said in essence “I love you,” but it is only found in direct statements to His chosen people Israel, and to Jesus’ appointed disciples. It is a love that comes out of a covenant relationship; which God has with those who have repented of their sin, placed their faith in Christ, and walk faithfully with Him. 

All people are loved through God’s benevolence, but only some are loved through His covenant.

Sometimes people can misunderstand God’s benevolent love and feel it means they are accepted by God and forgiven automatically without conditions. This is a grave mistake with serious implications. Listen to what God detests, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19) 

Even though God longs for the world to be saved, He will not tolerate its evil. For He has laid down a warning. John 3:16 states “…that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

To believe is to entrust one’s entire life under the authority of the Kingship of Jesus. If a person refuses that command, then he will perish, meaning he will be destroyed under the wrath of God forever. However, if one turns from their disobedience and responds to God’s benevolent love, then he will receive the gift of eternal life and the blessed promise of forgiveness, that comes through the death and resurrection of God’s only Son. Then he will enter into God’s sacred covenant love. 

A prayer for you – Lord God, help people to understand the truth of your love. Let them not be deceived, believing you require nothing of them. Open their eyes, that they would respond to your divine kindness by leaving their sinful ways and placing their faith in you. Bring precious souls into your covenant love today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You’re The Man!

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"There is one standard every man is to be judged by. One! And whose standard is that? God’s. All others are just opinions, but only one really counts."

You are the man! If you have never had someone tell you that before, then let me be the first.  

It seems these days, men are put down constantly. On one hand some middle age men are told, “You work too much and never have time for your family.” On the other hand, it is voiced to some younger men, “You are on your phone constantly and play video games all day. You are lazy. Get a job!” To some men it is also conveyed, “You are too harsh and blow up all the time.” While to other men it is said, “You are too passive and never say anything.” Then around Father’s Day each year some dads always seem to hear, “You are a dead-beat dad, and your kids are going to end up in jail.”

These messages are conflicting and condemning. They do not give men something to live up to, but produce a sense of rejection. Despite that, can we ask, “Are any of those statements true?” To be honest, sometimes they are. It depends on the man. But that is not the point!

By what standard is a man to be judged? By his family, girlfriend, society, his religion, by movies, social media or his own personal opinion? There is one standard every man is to be judged by. One! And whose standard is that? God’s. All others are just opinions, but only one really counts.

God is the Creator of every man and thereby sets the standard for which they are to live. Here are three of God’s standards.

1.    Be a man of peace. It is written, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” (Proverbs 15:18) A man is to put away his quick and hot temper. He should restrain himself, and seek to be a person of peace and work to create such an environment wherever he is.

2.    Be a man of purity and faithfulness. The Scripture teaches, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4) A man is to walk in purity, abstaining from sex outside of marriage, and be faithful toward his wife in marriage.

3.    Be a man of love. The Bible says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) A man is to love the Lord God with all his being. Not some, but all. All of his intellect, passions, spiritual life and physical being. And a man is to love others, just as he would want to be loved, laying down his life for the good of his neighbor.

Are you such a man?

One is not merely identified outwardly as a man, but his true essence is identified inwardly. Is he a man of peace? Is he a man of purity and faithfulness? Is he a man of love for God and others? Men, I challenge you to be who God created you to be. He made you with a purpose, and did not make a mistake.

But you say, “I have failed.” We all have. There is only one man who has never failed. Jesus. Yet in His perfection, the Author of life died and rose again that all might be as He. Through Him, all men can be made new. They can be freed from the things that have controlled and ruined their life up to this day. Admit your sin before God, place your faith in Him and live according to His ways. Then you can truly be the man you were born to be.          

A prayer for you – Lord God, thank you for every man you have made. They are precious in your sight. Yet, they have done wrong. Evil things have enslaved their minds and hearts. Deliver them this hour. Bring them to call upon you and be set free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.