Across the expanse of the mighty Atlantic Ocean, a small new "experimental" nation is born...one destined for greatness...a sanctuary to the oppressed...and a promise land to those in search of a new life! We call this nation, "America the Beautiful", "The Land of Opportunity", "The Land of the Free”... “The Home of the Brave", or just plain... “The United States of America!”! A nation whose pledge reads..."One nation...under God...with Liberty and Justice for all!"...a line which the French would call, our "raison d'etre", or our "reason for being"...our Birthright!!
"God spoke to Abraham saying, Go out of your native country, and from your kin, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you: and there I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you will be a blessing; I will bless them that bless you, and him that curses you will I curse: and through you...all the families of the earth will be blessed!" Genesis 12:1-3.
We are a nation which clearly resounds the fulfillment of God's call and blessing upon Abraham, as it was given to him many thousands of years ago. A small handful of people by faith in God left behind all they knew in England… in order to establish a new nation upon the North American continent. This one act lead to create one of the most prosperous and powerful nations that has ever existed upon the earth.
May we always be mindful...that this blessing and birthright does not proceed from any work which we have established upon ourselves. There is a source! The source is Almighty God, His Son Jesus Christ...and the Covenant which he offered to Abraham...and all those who had respect to the birthright of that same Promise! It comes from the fact that our forefathers, the pilgrims, as flawed as they may have been, had the faith to believe it, and the courage to take those first mighty steps to obey its promise. We are a blessed nation... because...by the grace of God we somehow have had the faith to believe God's promise...act upon it...and when the blessings began to flow...give from it!!!
"If my people, who are called by my name, would simply humble themselves, begin to pray, seek my face, and turn from their wrong ways...then I will hear them from heaven... I will forgive their sin...and I will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Certainly we are not a people without sin...we have made our mistakes...we have our flaws. However, despite it all...the fact is...no other nation of people in the history of the world has ever done more to propagate the values and truths that facilitate freedom and liberty around the globe … than those of the United States of America. No other nation has been a greater beacon of hope...nor a faucet of refreshing to the world around it...than this nation has throughout its short and storied history. There is hardly no country...nor even small plot of land in this world which has not been touched by the benevolence of its leaders, nor the compassion of its people!
As great as the people of this nation have become...and as high as we have been exalted...we are not immune to the deception that has fallen upon others before us. God did not create this nation and build such wealth in it, merely to allow a prideful and vain people, who through their self-centeredness and devices, attempt steal its precious birthright and squander its God-given blessing! Rather, it was created with the same special purpose as from the beginning...to bless the nations with its wealth and wisdom... to embrace a hurting world ... so that through His people..."His Kingdom may come...His Will be done...On this Earth...Just as it is in Heaven!" Neither I or you…can speak for an entire nation of people...but we can certainly speak and act for ourselves. God grant us the grace...and the wisdom of His Spirit...so much so ...that we too may echo the immortal words of the great servant and Apostle Paul.
"We have not been disobedient to this heavenly vision...the great birthright...the great purpose...and to our God and his son Jesus Christ...our Savior and King!" Acts 26:19