A Day of Independence
The Fourth of July is only a few days away, and like every year, I am drawn to an international crowd and an international message. I would ask the international readers to be patient with me and see how this message is also addressed to them. 250 years have gone by, and the Lord has been patient with the United States. We have done remarkable things for the cause of Christ, and we have also done terrible things that lead to our shame as a nation. However, this week every year, I like to take a moment and examine what this means for us as the Body of Christ. The United States is not in Bible prophecy, astute readers of God’s Word highlight that we one day will not be the dominant player on the world stage. However, that is not this day!
The United States is blessed because of one simple reason. God does not go back on His promises. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Our founding fathers were Bible-believing men who stood on the principles of God’s Word. We are standing on the shoulders of giants. However, this lesson is fading, like Israel, we are forgetting the works that God has done in our own nation, and we are turning our hearts to other gods. Psalm 106:13-16 “They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. 16 When they envied Moses in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of the LORD,” When we fail to recognize the God who brought us to where we are, we can become lost to wander down paths that lead us away from the Almighty. Our nation must repent and seek the Lord, or I fear our days as a superpower are numbered. Pastor Billy Graham said something to the effect of, “God will have to ask Sodom and Gomorrah for forgiveness if He does not discipline the United States.” How true are these words! We have been spared the discipline and sudden destruction for one sole reason. The United States has helped the Jewish people. I fear the day is coming when this will no longer be the case. For the born-again believer, our time to shine is now. We must be telling people the good news of Christ, we must be discipling believers, and we must be guarding and advancing truth back into the churches that have been abandoned.
For the international audience, God’s promises are there for each and every nation. If we humble our hearts, seek the Lord, and turn to Him, He will act. Now is the time for believers to be praying for their local leaders and for their national leaders. Join advising groups and promote the eternal truths of Jesus Christ to anyone willing to listen. When we do this, freedom rings; when we do this, liberty is declared. For we who are saved are the only ones freed from sin, and the only ones representing on this earth the liberty that was purchased on the cross. God is remarkably patient, but I dare say the time is coming when, if we do not repent as a nation and seek Him, we will see this nation fall to the wayside like so many other nations. This Fourth of July needs to be a day for all to recognize what a few men did for the cause of Christ and how God shaped a nation to share and declare the Word of God for over 250 years! I pray our time is not over, and that our chance to serve the King of Kings has many more years ahead. But this can only happen if we put Jesus first and recognize the need for us to be in prayer and actively participating in the work He has us to do. Let’s keep working until the trumpet sounds and the Rapture occurs and we are called home.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL
SUMMER PRAYER FEST
This week, we are going to be praying for our leaders around the world. Pray for your nation's leaders, pray for your local leaders, and pray for your Church leaders. Let this be a time we take to give them the needed spiritual help they undoubtedly need. The Bible verse to focus on is Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”