AMERICA, YOU, GREATNESS AND GOD

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to all people.

“I will make America great again,” a candidate for President of the United States declares.  “I will be the GREATEST president for our military; I will make the GREATEST deals; I will make the GREATEST wall; EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT!”  The crowd cheers wildly…no need for details; no need for reason; no need for a reality check…WE JUST WANT TO BE GREAT!

The absurdity of the declarations become clear when we actually read them apart from the personality, but in the fervor of a Political Rally, surrounded by thousands of citizens who are tired of being betrayed by the political elite, feel helpless in the face of America’s decline and desire a leader that will CHANGE THINGS without effort or change on their part, it has become the rallying cry and campaign motto of the leading candidate.  We desire the ILLUSION OF GREATNESS; a façade to cover the crumbling foundation of willing relinquishing freedom, moral decay and malaise.

What makes a People; a Nation great?  Is it the right leader?  A “special” people?  A thriving economy, unlimited natural resources, low unemployment?  What can we learn from the greatest history book in the world; the Bible.

GENESIS 12:2 I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION; I WILL BLESS YOU AND MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT; AND YOU SHALL BE A BLESSING.

ISRAEL, God’s “Chosen People,” a nation that has survived war, persecution, captivity and deliverance and after thousands of years still stands as a GREAT NATION.  In Genesis 12, we read God’s promise to Abraham that he would be a great nation and have a great name, but it WAS NOT Abraham that made Israel a great nation.  After suffering years of slavery, God raised up Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt, but it WAS NOT Moses that made Israel great. Israel had a desire to be like other nations and demanded a King.  God gave them  a king but it WAS NOT Saul, the first king or David, the second King or even Solomon, the wisest King that made Israel a great nation.  Israel became a GREAT NATION because they followed a GREAT GOD who made a Covenant with a MAN OF FAITH.

MATTHEW 16:18 AND I SAY UNTO THEE, THOU ART PETER AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

THE CHURCH, we read about its origination in the Book of Acts; history records its continued development through the ages; we read of its victories and failings, yet it still stands as a FORTRESS OF SAFETY AND HOPE to a lost and confused world.  So what made the Church GREAT?  No matter how awesome Peter preached that first message to the newly Spirit-filled church on the Day of Pentecost, it WAS NOT Peter that made the church GREAT. The Apostle Paul preached to kings, emperors and traveled to many nations but he was just a “Planter and Waterer” to the Church.  It WAS NOT Paul that made the church GREAT.  In fact the Apostle Paul explains his role and declares that he doesn’t deserve the credit but the glory belongs to God.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:7 SO THEN NEITHER HE WHO PLANTS IS ANYTHING, NOR HE WHO WATERS, BUT GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE.

No, it wasn’t Paul or Peter, the other Apostles, Martyrs, Popes or eloquent Preachers that have made the CHURCH GREAT.  The CHURCH IS GREAT because it has been established by a GREAT GOD, built on the SURE FOUNDATION OF HIS WORD and PURCHASED BY HIS OWN BLOOD.

So what made America a great nation?  It was not George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan.  The credit does not belong to great military leaders or successful entrepreneurs or even its citizens.  What has made America great is the Foundation of Principles on which it was established; GODLY PRINCIPLES; principle of FREEDOM; principles of LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS; a belief that our RIGHTS come from God and not the BENEVOLENCE OF THE POWERFUL.

2 CHRONICLES 7:14 IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND.

How can we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?  The antidote to America’s ills is the same one that was prescribed by God to the great nation of Israel….If America truly desires to be a GREAT NATION; a Shining City on the Hill; a Beacon of Hope to other nations, she must HUMBLE HERSELF IN PRAYER, SEEK THE FACE OF GOD AND STOP SINNING!  Only then will God HEAL OUR LAND and once again AMERICA WILL BE GREAT.