And the LORD went before them by day in a
pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to
give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the
cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)
Enshrined in the Foundation Stones of our American Republic are the biblical
imperatives that gave our Founding Fathers the spiritual Light to found a
nation peculiar to all the nations of the earth
for Liberty, Godliness, and
Union. The Light was not an `uncertain Light' but a sure and faithful Light of
Truth and Freedom under which nations might find the blessings and beneficence
of Divine Love. Our nation has been subject to many challenges and dangerous
wars, yet, we have always endured every challenge to come smiling through
unscathed and stronger than ever. It has been so because we have not forgotten
the God of Providence and Love that has given breath to our national being.
There has always been that luminous and glowing Light that has forever preceded
us in the day of battle, and trailed at our back during the nights of our
hardships. That Light is Christ!
On
the obverse side of the US One Dollar Bill, may be found the Great Seal and
escutcheon of our Nation. The symbolic nature of all depicted there has a
special significance to our reliance upon that
Providential Hand that directed
our steps from the early days of our founding. There is depicted on our
National Seal a Great Eagle grasping, in his left talons, the thirteen arrows (symbolizing the original thirteen
colonies and the essential power that sustains us). In the right talons we see
the olive branch consisting of thirteen leaves and thirteen fruits
demonstrating that a Godly peace and prosperity is forever preferred to the
resort to war which the arrows represent. Hovering over the depiction of the
Eagle is affixed what we call the "Glory Cloud." The "Glory' is
a luminous cloud containing thirteen stars that also represent the full number
of colonies at our founding. This Glory Cloud is the same as that cloud which
followed the Children of Israel at night in the Wilderness and gave the Light
essential to make their way known. That same Cloud preceded them by day to lead
them into the good path, and to defend against all aggressors. What would have
happened to our nation if we had not had the benefit of that Light from 1776 to
present? Suppose that Light were extinguished and the Cloud dissipated? What
light would we then follow? Has it not already become dim to our eyes as we
turn to the Malthusian philosophy over and above our primitive faith in Christ?
On
the left side of that same Dollar bill is the Great Pyramid with the Capstone
floating above with the all-seeing Eye. This chief cornerstone represents the "Stone that the Builders Rejected."
It has become the Chief Cornerstone of our Nation – Under God. (St. Matthew
21:42)
We
celebrate today what we WERE as a nation blessed of God. But we
must also observe this day what we have BECOME and as a time of prayerful
repentance to that Great and Divine Power that made us a nation most blessed
among all the nations of the earth. We have ceased to follow that Glory Cloud
that has attended our National Being from its inception. We have turned to gods
of flesh and of precious metal instead of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We have forbidden our children to enjoy that same freedom of public prayer that
most of us have enjoyed when in elementary and high school. We have opened the
flood gates of immorality and enshrined the most egregious sins in our public
laws. How will God respond to our national arrogance and depravity? Does He not
always send forth warnings and lightnings from His Throne preceding hard
judgment? Has He not sent among our coastal and interior cities the destroying
wind and the whirlwind? Have enormous fires not destroyed much wealth and
caused many to flee their homes? Have ravages of sexual diseases not brought
many of our youth to the grave? Has He not spurred the hand of the sorcerer to
supply soul-destroying drugs to our youth? Have wars raged which have depleted
our national coffers and the lives of our best and brightest? Has He not given
us leadership that represents our own demented values? Have we not ceased to be
a Light and City on a Hill that is the envy of the world?
This
Independence Day, America, awaken from your spiritual stupor and look again to
the Lord that has been our Light. Remember the grandeur and righteousness of
our past years, and do not forget the depths of ruin to which we have sunk, and
are accelerating, in our present age. We might remember that hymn written so
long ago of the Kindly Light (John Newman):
Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom,
lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead
Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride
ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen,
o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself
hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith,
home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.
Please, America, remember today the God that delivered you from the hand of the
oppressor. Turn to Him in prayer that our moral sense and duty be restored in
the hearts of our people. Pray and fast. Repent and turn. The Light is fixed.
Only our own wanderings have made it appear more dimly lit.
