As we celebrate yet another Independence Day, July 4, it is important to remember the foundational principles that set apart American from other cultures. Many of the reformers from the late 1700’s were men of great faith. Several were preachers and well-informed Bible students. These outstanding leaders sought God’s provision and guidance in the decisions they made and the documents they developed.
Let’s go back in time for a moment. Some 55 miles south of Baghdad on the Euphrates River you can still find the ruins of Babylon. It was the ancient city in Mesopotamia and the largest and most powerful city of that time. The “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World. The towers, artworks, gardens, and palaces were a splendid backdrop for the commercial, administrative, literary, and religious institutions thriving in that city. Even though the Babylonians lived in what they assumed was an impregnable fortress, in 539 B.C., Cyrus the Great, the King of Persia, decided to ignore the 329 foot walls encircling this culture and he captured the city by rerouting the Euphrates River and entering at night while the Babylonians were celebrating.
Despite our initial focus on faith, our country has really strayed from the spiritual roots and beliefs that framed our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Much like the ancient city of Babylon our spiritual and moral foundation is crumbling. In his attempt to organize the first worldwide government in opposition to God (Genesis 11:1-9) the biblical character Nimrod ignored God’s warnings. Babylon fell more than five centuries before Christ. Unfortunately, today the same spirit and the same Nimrod attributes that caused Babylon to become corrupt are influencing our culture.
As my friend Pastor David Jeremiah stated “Daniel himself lived in a time of rampant godlessness in an empire that devastated God’s people and wallowed in opulence, debauchery, arrogance, blasphemy, and pleasure. And those with the discernment to read the signs of the times today (Matthew 16:2-3) know that the similarities we see between Daniel’s Babylon and today’s Western culture are signs that dark prophetic visions loom close on our horizon.”
With all the power, influence, and leadership found in America, like Babylon, we seem to have an impregnable fortress. Yet the corruption of our ideals and values have allowed a satanic influence that is eating away at the moral and political foundation our forefathers felt was so important for our republic to survive.
The only way our country and our families can survive is to once again rely upon God’s promises and plan. We need committed and dedicated believers, like Daniel, to become participants in the process, not just spectators. It will take people who have enormous prayer, courage, faith, and conviction for good to prevail.
This year we have an opportunity to enter the process and vote for leaders who will return our nation to the biblical values presented by our founders. While we have all kinds of security departments and procedures in place to protect us from threats, it is praying faith-partners like you and the mercy of God who can ultimately change the course of our future. The assurances of God’s word need to be claimed, “Nevertheless. I will bring health and healing to it (the land); I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” Jeremiah 33:6
Let’s have hope and faith that God will protect and encourage each of us. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19
Personal Application:
If part of the definition for the word security is: “freedom from care, anxiety, and fear; precautions taken to guard against harm,” what are the verses God is giving you to lean into during these trying times? What do these verses suggest? Heb. 6:13-20, Ps. 4:8, Is. 43:2, 2 Cor. 1:3-4, Ps. 62:8
Jim Grassi, D. Min.