"God Shed His Grace on Thee"
Our nation celebrates its independence on July 4th. It has been 232 years since
the colonies officially declared their independence from Great Britain. A well
know song proclaims, "America! America! God shed His grace on thee." It is true
that the blessings of God are worth singing about.
But why is our nation turning from the principle upon which it was founded and
grew strong? God invites, "Remember this, and be assured; recall it to your
mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, for I am God." (Isa.
46:9,10).
A story is told of a man from our country who was traveling in South America. He
was asked to explain why there was so much prosperity in North America and so
much poverty in South America. He answered, "Perhaps it is because the Spanish
conquistadors came looking for gold while the pilgrims came looking for God." So
why are we abandoning what has always been the true source of our national
strength?
Dwight Eisenhower said, "The spirit of a man is more important that mere
physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth." The
Bible says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people
(Prov. 14:34). Our coins say, "In God we trust." Our pledge says, "One nation,
under God." Our Declaration of Independence speaks of "A firm reliance on the
protection of divine providence."
Are these sayings true anymore? Thomas Jefferson once said, "God who gave us
life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have
removed the conviction that these liberties are a gift of God? Indeed, I tremble
for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep
forever."
By Jon W. Quinn
The Final Page
From Expository Files 15.7; July 2008
