July 4th!
A day we celebrate with fireworks, cookouts, various kinds of sports activities! A time when friends and family come together under the unity of a National holiday! A holiday that few people, (at least in contemporary times), ever really stop to consider, with regard to its true origin!
A time and event that initially represented something far more important and for that matter…far more expensive than the cost of a few bottle rockets, some sparklers or even a colorful plume of Pyrotechnics, streaming down from the darkened sky!
In reality, the 4th of July, actually represents the collective consciousnesses of a nation to declare its independence from both government imposed religion and second class citizenship. Where everyman would equally possess, as our country’s forefathers once declared… “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”!
One need not look further, than to the works of authors like John Bunyan and his book… “Pilgrim’s Progress”, in order to discover that this nation once possessed the concept of a manifest destiny, which was designed for the purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every kindred, tongue, people and nation! And that our early founders believed that there mission in this nation was to create a stronghold that was singularly dedicated to the perpetuation of God’s kingdom will, right here on earth, as it is in heaven!
But needless to say, we are living in challenging times, where science and not God has taken the center stage! Where, secular humanism and evolutionism, has scored what many believe to be a major victory for the non-existence of a higher authority; and more particularly… for a divine nation under His ever watchful eye!
In the words of Peter Lillback; author of “George Washington’s Sacred Fire”…
“Faith mattered greatly to our Founders: Consider, for example, the words of the First Continental Congress in 1774:
THAT it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend and preserve these civil and religious rights and liberties for which many of our fathers fought, bled and died, and to hand them down entire to future generations”.
And in the words of Glenn Beck, popular conservative radio and TV host… “Many contemporary historians and media figures have trouble, however, speaking of what our Founders called “an indispensable duty which we owe to God”. The reason is that many of our contemporaries no longer believe what our founders believed. As a result they usually misunderstand our courageous forbearers. Or even worse, many modern and post-modern writers and reporters suppress, delete, expunge or outright deny our Founders’ cherished spiritual commitments. Consequently, some contemporary media communicators seek to refute those who celebrate, defend and advocate our Founders’ views of faith by ridicule and reductionism”.
Nonetheless, we know by irrefutable documented evidences that our founding fathers were indeed moved upon to build a nation by the divine guidance of an almighty power from on high!
Thomas Paine was a man whose writings sparked the passion for freedom from Britain’s tyranny, on both sides of the Atlantic. In June of 1775, the same year that the Revolutionary War had begun and one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Paine would publish an article in the “Pennsylvania Magazine” under the title “The Dream Interpreted”. His vivid dream of war made a strong impression on him, for in that dream he saw the horrific struggle with England and America and then ultimately America’s greatness after the war! Thomas Paine believed, as ultimately thousands of others would come to believe, that divine providence had both given him the dream and provided an interpreter that faithful day in those rarely traveled woods where he had bedded down after a cool drink of water from a nearby river! It was this divine revelation of conflict and freedom from oppression that ultimately sold 500.000 copies of his pamphlet “Common Sense” to the American colonists, beginning in January of 1776 and single handedly rekindled the patriotic spirit within an otherwise waning army under George Washington! The following is an excerpt from that now famous pamphlet… “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem to lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right not only to tax, but to bind us in all cases whatsoever, and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon the earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God”.
This vision and writings, along with the personal visions of General George Washington himself, helped to generate a collective belief in the minds of the American people that God almighty was preparing to build a nation, a nation that would inspire both freedom and Christianity without government control; and that would ultimately affect every nation around the globe!
George Washington believed Americans were called to be free from the tyranny that oppressed their lives and their worship! Contrary to various episodes on the History Channel and other networks, the various contemporary literary and journalistic publications that seek to re-write the pages of our nation’s great beginnings, in order to reflect their liberal and distorted perspective, which inevitably create an atheistic, heathenistic or deistic concept of all our national patriarchs; George Washington was a Bible believing, God fearing Christian, who spent long periods of time in prayer, requesting the sovereign hand of providence to aid him in both the new nations stability and development!
Isaac Potts, a Quaker man who found Washington on his knees in prayer one day at Valley Forge, during the freezing winter of 1777-1778, made this comment…“If there’s anyone on this earth whom the Lord will listen to, it is George Washington.” “He was shown great favor by God. As Daniel of old was shown the destiny of the planet Earth, so Washington was shown the destiny of our Country”.
It was a Continental Soldier by the name of Anthony Sherman, who recorded for posterity, a story in Washington’s own words after Washington experienced an angelic visitor at Valley Forge, during a time when Washington was likely contemplating his terms of surrender to General Cornwallis: British Theater Commander here in America, during the Revolutionary War. A story that tells of divine intervention during what would have otherwise been a tale of the lost cause for American freedom! The following is an excerpt from his personal account. Washington states…
“I do not know whether it was owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I; for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, third and even a fourth time did I repeat the question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor than a slight raising of her eyes. By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveting gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I essayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become powerless.” Washington goes on to say… “The mysterious visitor became more airy, and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly, at my companion. Presently I heard a voice saying… “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” While at the same time my visitor extended her arm and fore-finger eastwardly.”
Washington goes on to tell of a vision he received that day where he describes the conflict with England and the ultimate victory of America! God also showed Washington two additional major military conflicts that would come upon America; out of which God would divinely bring triumph! The Angel concluded its words to Washington by saying… “Let every child of the Republic learn to live and pray for his God, his land and the Union.” Washington ultimately stated next… “With these words the figure vanished. I started from my seat, and felt that I had seen a vision, wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress and destiny of the United States.” Shortly after this heavenly visitation, Washington’s starving troops received food by means of an Oneida Tribal woman named Polly Cooper.
Washington had no doubt experience divine providence that day in 1778 for it was upon this divine providence that our Independence as a nation was ultimately established.
Listen to the words of John Adams; as the video earlier portrayed on the night of July 4th 1776…“ The general principles upon which the fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity. I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence of and attributes of God.” July 4th ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
And in the words of Benjamin Franklin, often portrayed by modern liberalist as an adulterer, philanderer and occultist; as he spoke to the Constitutional Convention, Thursday, June 28th 1787…“God governs the affairs of man, and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” “In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered…do we imagine we no longer need His assistance”?
And in the words of Thomas Jefferson; often referred to as either a deist or a free thinker of early atheism…“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all happiness of man” “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Listen to the great orator of the Revolution (Patrick Henry), as he states… “There is a just God who resides over the destiny of Nations”, “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” But what of a United States that George Washington once declared would have school children to learn… “Above all, is the religion of Jesus Christ.” Why have we turned away from the teachings of the scriptures and the existence of a sovereign God, who gave to us the liberties we as Americans now so flippantly squander? Why have we become so blatantly rebellious against the warnings of our country’s fore-fathers! Is because we have believed the concepts of modern science and rejected the obvious signs of intelligent design? Thomas Paine wrote… “It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles are of divine origin.”
You probably never learned in your history class, while growing up in public school, of the great thunderstorm of 1812! A thunderstorm that suddenly appeared by Divine providence on the City of Washington D.C., during an invasion of the British to reclaim America. And that while some 10,000 British Red Coats set the nations’ Capital on fire, a massive tornado came down from the heavens and lighted upon the 10,000…injuring and killing soldiers, while the torrential rains putout the fires. That same evening, the British troops were so frightened and bewildered that they left Washington never to return!
But American has forgotten her God and His divine protection, not to mention His master design and intervention regarding our great country!
We have presently reached a frame of mind; a level of arrogance, that requires no acknowledgement of Him whatsoever. To so would no doubt require repentance!
Perhaps that great President and emancipator: Abraham Lincoln said it best… “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” And while today we have a President, who sadly enough will not formally acknowledge a National Day of Christian Prayer, on March 30th, 1863, the United States Senate established the first ‘National Day of Prayer’ and in their own words declared… “Devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President (President Lincoln), to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.”
Humiliation, now there’s a word that usually never crosses the minds of most Americans today, especially those in public office! Yet, throughout the centuries, President after President has both eagerly and openly embraced the concept of Christianity as being the mainstay of our country! That our very foundation and progress as a nation; is directly linked to our Divine Creator. Time will not permit the Christian endorsements of such Presidents as James Monroe, Andrew Jackson and Theodore Roosevelt; and many, many other Presidents down through the centuries; but in the words of one of our nations’ most beloved Presidents (Ronald Reagan); we hear the ever enduring call of freedom by means of Divine Providence, echoing in our ears again today as he once declared… “Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face. The Bible can touch hearts, order minds, and refresh souls.” “Indeed, it is an indisputable fact that all the complex and horrendous questions confronting us at home and worldwide have their answers in that single book, the Bible.” But America is in trouble today, to say the least! We presently have a President who no longer provides room for Christ, in terms of National recognition. Nor does he do so for the beliefs of our Founding Fathers. A president who claims Islam as his personal faith and however inadvertent, seeks to undermine the very principles that this great country was founded upon! In the words of President Barack Obama… “I am a Muslim”, “Whatever we once we’re, we’re no longer a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation and a nation of nonbelievers.” Governor Samuel Johnson, said these words before the North Carolina Ratifying Convention on July 30th, 1788… “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc…, may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high offices, unless first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.”
Saints of God! Our Nations leaders and its’ present day belief system, is ultimately the result of a people that have gone astray from the blood that once redeemed us as both individuals and as a great country! Our nation must remember the rock from whence it was hewn and return to the age old confidence that alone prevails through our complete dependence upon the everlasting and ever enduring principles of the Christian faith! Now is the time to arise and call upon our God! Now is the hour to remember our covenant to God Almighty as a Great Republic! Before it’s too late, let us celebrate this nations’ Independence Day with a heart of repentance combined with a strong conviction of duty to God and Country!
Let us reclaim our rightful place among the nations’ as God’s people, as Christian people, by making those in public office fully aware that “We the People” demand a ‘Christian Nation’ once again! For as Psalms 33:12 declares… “Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord”.