Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord
by Marnie Pehrson
George Mason, the Father of the Bill of
Rights warned, ''As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the
next world, so they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of
causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national
calamities.''
Recent events have led people back to their churches and synagogues
in record numbers. As a nation we have pulled together and
reaffirmed that "no man is an island" and that we need
each other for support and spiritual growth. Government leaders and
media celebrities who once deemed it "politically
incorrect" to pray in public or to espouse a belief in God are
now calling upon our entire nation to pray. In the last few weeks,
the song "God Bless America" has probably been sung more
times in public than it has been sung in the last twenty years. What
a blessing for our nation that God has used this terrible calamity
to turn His people – this nation under God – back to Him!
But, is praying for God's deliverance and singing God Bless American
and printing it on T-shirts enough to turn the tide? Or might we
each inquire, "What lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:20). Psalms
33:12 teaches us, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the
Lord." What does this mean to have our God as the Lord?
Proverbs 14:34 expounds, "Righteousness exalteth a nation; but
sin is a reproach to any people." "But the nation and
kingdom that will not serve [God] shall perish; yea those nations
shall be utterly destroyed." (Isaiah 60:12).
We as a nation must repent of our wicked ways. This means as
individuals and families we must change our bad habits, turn to God,
live His teaches and serve each other, as the Lord would have us do.
If we do not, then those innocent people who died will have died in
vain. Let us see this event in the light of what it is – a warning
that if we refuse God, we also refuse His protection as a nation. A
similar incident that happened in Jesus' mortal ministry helps us
understand recent events and tells us what we must do next:
"There were present at that season some that told Him of the
Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans
were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such
things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish."
"Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and
slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt
in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish." (Luke 13:1-5)
We need not suppose that those who have perished in our national
calamity were any more sinful than the rest of us. There were many
wonderful people who died, for example, the rescue workers and the
people on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania who sacrificed
their lives for others. "Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) But
if we will not learn from this lesson and repent, the warning is
clear that we "shall all likewise perish." There is not
one among us who could not do better, who could not resolve to more
fully dedicate our lives to the Lord.
Some say, "But God is love and He would not punish us in this
way." In answer to this, the Apostle Paul explains: "For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with
sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Furthermore
we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the
Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:6,7,9)
Our Heavenly Father is a kind and loving Parent. He loves us. He
loves America. He does not seek for ways to punish us. He was not
happy to see what happened to those who died in this tragic event.
But He is our Father and He sees things on a much broader canvas
than we do. He knows that our life on this earth is not our ultimate
existence or final destination. There is life beyond the grave. We
are each free to live our lives here as we please – even the
wicked have their freedom of choice. And in this case wicked men
used their freedom of choice to take the lives of thousands of
innocent people.
Collectively speaking, as a nation, we have lost the Spirit of the
Lord, and thus in a measure have lost His protection. In the days of
Noah, "the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with
man." (Genesis 6:3) The Spirit of the Lord is what protects us,
gives us wisdom, peace and keeps us free. (John 14:26-27, 2
Corinthians 3:17).
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 explains not only how we keep the Spirit, but
how we can lose it as well:
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit
of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are."
We must live worthily of the Spirit. We must repent and be converted
and change our wicked ways. This is how we serve God and make Him
our Lord – by keeping His commandments. George Washington reminds
us, "of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."
Abraham Lincoln counseled, "that those nations only are blessed
whose God is their Lord."
Let us return to the Ten Commandments and the moral absolutes that
have made us free. Let us remember that God will not allow a nation,
established and once guided under His hand, to continue in iniquity
without reaping the consequences. If we will not seek His spirit,
then we will be left to ourselves and risk the results of putting
our trust in the arm of flesh. Let us remember that
"Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any
people.'' (Proverbs 14:34) Let us unearth and heed the warnings of
our Founding Fathers and of God himself, lest we reap a ''chain of
causes and effects'' that punish our ''national sins by national
disasters.''
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Marnie L. Pehrson is a wife, mother of 6, founder of SheLovesGod.com,
and author of both inspirational Christian titles and historical
fiction romance novels. She particularly enjoys writing stories that
integrate her ancestors like "The Patriot Wore Petticoats"
which is based on the true story of her 4th Great Grandmother - a
Revolutionary War heroine. You may read excerpts and samples of her
books and ebooks at www.MarniePehrson.com.
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