We’ve just celebrated the 4th of July, and I’m sure at least once over the weekend, hopefully in your church on Sunday, you sang the song God Bless America.
At Crouch Community Church this morning, Pastor Brian Smith tackled a question that should be on every Christian’s mind:
Will God still bless America?
An America that has thrown God, His Word, and prayer out of schools and public places.
An America where uttering the name of Jesus or having a Christian symbol on your desk could get you fired.
An America that legalizes the killing of babies through abortion, just like the detestable child sacrifices in the pagan cultures of the Old Testament.
An America that idolizes pleasure with no regard to the sanctity of life.
An America that tries to silence and intimidate the voice of the moral majority.
An America that embraces “syncretism,” the philosophy of our age that says the combination or conciliation of differing beliefs or practices in religion is fine with God, so let’s include a little bit of all belief systems and still call it Christianity.
An America where the people vote against changing the definition and meaning of marriage, but there’s always a judge who will overturn the people’s wishes.
An America where just like in the days of Judges in the Bible, everyone does what is right in their own eyes.
An America where atheists can speak freely and win lawsuits against Christians, but Christians are forced out of business and judged harshly for standing up for their Christian beliefs.
An America where liberty constrained by godly morality is now a foreign concept and the “Truth” is offensive.
An America where political correctness replaces free expression.
An America where a liberal president and politicians end their speeches with a glib, “And may God bless America.” What are they expecting God to bless? The breaking of God’s laws and commands and the attempt to remove Him from American culture.
What Does “God Bless America” Mean?
Most people think of a blessing as God granting peace, security, victory, and material provision. Actually, God’s idea of a blessing isn’t for the present circumstances, but with an eye on eternity. God blesses with His greatest purpose and plan for America, not man’s desires and plans.
The first recorded blessing was on Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you
Through Abraham’s family tree, Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. Through Christ, people can have a personal relationship with God and receive blessings beyond all measure for eternity. That’s the blessing that God offers every nation and every person.
What Can We Expect God to Do with America?
One of the requirements of God’s blessing of Abraham was that he obey God. God told him to pick up and move his family, even when he didn’t know where he was going. Abraham obeyed God and his decedents, his country, and his family received blessings as long as they obeyed God. Reading the Old Testament, we know that the people didn’t continue to obey God and that’s why He finally sent us a Savior—His only Son Jesus Christ.
It’s hard to know what God is going to do with America. We’ve had many “natural” disasters, and there will be more—floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, draughts, fires, and earthquakes. Illnesses without cures. Financial meltdowns. Where is our nation going to find hope in crises? In the government? The military? The police? FEMA? Doctors? Banks? They can all help, but trusting and believing in God is the only source of lasting hope.
God is in control, America is not in control:
The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33: 10-11
Our security is in eternity, not in America.
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For those who know Jesus as their personal Savior, you have nothing to fear. Your future is secure:
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19
Our hope is in the Lord, not in America:
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We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33: 20:22
Will God still bless America? I don’t know, but I do know that He will bless His people whatever country they live in. God will enlarge His blessing on people who put their trust and hope in Him.
America Still Stands Only by the Grace of God
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You and I are alive today by the grace of God, and God’s purpose and plan for every Christian is that we share our source of hope and joy with someone who needs to know it today. If we don’t, then who will?
I pray that God continues to bless each of you. I pray for revival in America so that we can truly sing with a knowing heart:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above
From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:7
“We wait in hope for The Lord .
He is our help and our shield”
This passage is crystal clear and profound. Our only hope of eternity is through The Lord. Those who detract from His beliefs will be lost. He alone is the Truth, the Light , and the Way!