A Righteous Nation

A Righteous Nation - Nathele Graham -twotug@embarqmail.com

The United States of America will soon celebrate Independence Day with parades, fireworks, and barbecues. It's a fun time, but do we stop and think about
the history of this nation? The first settlers came to escape from religious persecution. They were Christians who loved God but the government dictated their ways of worship and sermon content. This was in conflict with God's Word, and the pilgrims chose
to leave for the shores of what we now call the United States of America.

The Mayflower sailed to the East Coast of America and landed at Plymouth Rock where the first order of business was to establish a government of sorts.
The Mayflower Compact was drafted and signed and was the first document to establish governing in this new land.

The first words of that document are "In the name of God, Amen" and elsewhere it says, "Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and the advancements
of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country..." That was then and this is now.

As a nation we have turned far away from God. Shame on us. Many years after the Mayflower Compact was enacted, the Declaration of Independence was signed.
That document acknowledged rights given by God:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

That document acknowledges there is a Creator and there are God-given rights. The apostle John tells us who that Creator is. In speaking of Jesus as the
Word, John wrote "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). Jesus Christ is the Creator.

America was founded on godly principles but has lost her moral footing. The last man who occupied the White House declared that we were no longer a Christian
nation, as if that's a good thing. It isn't good at all.

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." (Proverbs 29:2)

The moral decay in America is astonishing and that is a sad comment about Christians today. It's also a reflection upon the leadership of America. We
have had a long line of leaders who openly reject Christ and the evil they've embraced has polluted the lives of Americans. President Trump isn't perfect but he isn't ashamed to stand before this nation and acknowledge God Almighty.

 

Obama is a Muslim and he legalized sin. He's a prime example of "when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Oh,
there are those who don't mourn, such as Kathy Griffin who thinks it's funny to pretend to behead President Trump then whine because there was a backlash against her. Or how about Johnny Depp who "joked" about an actor killing a president. Not funny. Not funny
at all.

These are just a couple of the mentally sick people who are given attention from the liberal media. Where is the outrage from Christians? Have we become
a part of the problem? We need to take a stand for Christ and make our voices heard. America will only become a Muslim nation, an atheistic nation, or an amoral nation if God-fearing men and women stay silent.

Each one of us can take a stand in our own community. If we make a difference locally then that will spread nationally. Don't compromise your walk with
Christ.

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34).

What does it mean to be righteous?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as "Acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin." Moral law was established by God. If
a nation rejects God there can be no righteousness in that nation. A good example of a nation that rejects God is North Korea. The atrocities that happen there are truly inspired by Satan.

America was once a righteous nation, but it seems as if there are few people today who hold God's moral guidance as a way of life. What has gone wrong?
There are many causes of this unrighteousness that is gripping America, but rejection of God Almighty is the main reason. It's been happening over time and is finally becoming so open that Christian morals are becoming illegal.

Was it the invention of television that did it? That certainly is a factor. Families stopped eating at the dinner table and talking with each other. Then
it became a status symbol to have more than one television. No longer was the family gathered together in the living room but the kids had to have their own TVs in their bedrooms.

There is no parental guidance in what they watch. Do your kids watch MTV? Christians shouldn't. Television has more influence on children and teens than
parents. In a short time we've gone from TV shows like Father Knows Best to programming that belittles men, glorifies sin, and laughs at righteousness. Movies aren't any better. What used to be considered R rated is now PG.

Music has gone from the Beatles singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to Katy Perry singing about having sexual relations with an extraterrestrial. Schools
don't focus on the three R's but instead teach kindergarteners that it's okay to have two mommies and that they can choose if they are a girl or a boy.

This is morally wrong and against biblical truth. Parents, where are you? Christian parents, put your foot down and stop the madness. Turn off the TV,
restrict the movies your children watch, censor the music, homeschool your children, and get your family back to worshipping God. Lead by example. Sunday mornings aren't a day for you to sleep in. Sin is a reproach, and America is full of sin.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

The Psalmist understood that no nation can be great unless God Almighty is honored as Lord. We know that this psalm was written about Israel because they
are the people that God chose as His own. The Jewish people were entrusted with the Law of Moses, Jewish prophets spoke God's words to His people, and most importantly it was through the Jewish nation that the Messiah was born.

Yes, Israel was blessed and through them the entire world is blessed because of Jesus Christ. In reading Psalm 33 we can see that it isn't written only
to Israel, but to the entire earth:

"Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." (Psalm 33:8)

Every person on earth is admonished to fear the Lord and stand in awe of Him. Are there any nations today that truly honor the sovereign God and look
to Him for guidance? I can't think of a single one. A favorite song Americans hear is God Bless America which contains a plea "stand beside her and guide her, through the night with a Light from above."

God cannot and will not bless any nation or person who stands against Him. It's time for the Christians in America, and indeed the entire world-to stop
listening to the god of this world (Satan) and turn their hearts, souls, and minds to God Almighty. Bless Him by following Him.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)
David knew God's truth and He loved the Lord. There are many prophecies regarding judgment day and it's coming quickly. America is becoming a nation that
has forgotten God and is on the edge of no return. Brothers and sisters, stand firmly upon God's Word.

When any law is enacted that is contrary to God's law, reject it. Write to your congressman and let the Christian voice be heard. Pray. America was given
a reprieve from God's judgment when Hillary lost the last election. Christians prayed and God answered, but now we need to continue in prayer. We need to take a stand and live our lives to honor God and lead others to salvation through Jesus.

"Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but
men. Selah." (Psalm 9:19-20)

We are mere mortals and our time on earth is very short. We can make a difference in the course of our nation if we turn to God and pray for our leaders.
We also need to live our daily lives according to biblical ways. This world is not our home. We are passing through life and a Christian has much to look forward to in the next life.

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among
the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:11-12)

People watch Christians and see how we represent Jesus Christ in our daily lives. In this verse, the King James translation uses the word "conversation"
but this means how we conduct our lives. Other translations more clearly say "having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles" (NKJ) and "be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors" (NLT).

It all comes down to the fact that we are not supposed to live like the world lives and Christians in America must turn away from the evil around us.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

I know that verse was written to the nation of Israel, but so was most of the Old Testament. That doesn't mean we ignore the truth behind the words. I
am a Christian. I am called by the name of Christ. Because I have accepted Him as my Savior, I have a responsibility to live in a way that honors Him. So do you.

If every Christian in this nation would humble themselves before the Lord, pray for our nation, earnestly seek the Lord with their hearts, souls, and
minds, and turn from the wickedness of sin, we would see a difference in America.

As we celebrate the independence of America from the tyranny of English rule, let's remember that we are first and foremost Christians, and may this nation
return to our dependence on God. Righteousness only comes through Jesus Christ and may His righteousness be upon America.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

 

 

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