For
many, the discovery of America heralded a land of shining rivers and forests
beyond measure. But more than that, America was early considered a land of
freedom and religious liberty. It was a sanctuary from the persecution taking
place in Europe against Christian believers. One of the first deeds of
Christopher Columbus, Admiral of the Ocean Seas, was to erect a cross in the
New World in 1492. The Pilgrims, who landed in the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock
in 1620, conducted prayers of thanks to God for His Providential protection and
care of them in crossing the perils of the sea.
In the early formation of the spirit of Liberty and Independence in America,
God was our Counselor and Guide in establishing the principles upon which our
government would be formed. His name is enshrined in the founding document of
our Independence – the Declaration of Independence. Prayers were a common
exercise in the Continental Congress, and later in the Congress of the United
States. George Washington even called for a Day of Prayer for the Nation
beginning in the US Congress. This reliance on National Prayer continued
throughout the early history of our nation and was reinforced by the Executive
Order of President Abraham Lincoln. National Prayer has since been called for
and proclaimed by Presidents during times of national peril and struggle.
America has changed from the day of her National Founding. She has forgotten
God and turned to lesser gods of steel, gold, and humanism. She has been
labeled as “no longer a Christian nations” by a rebellious President who quotes
the Quran more often than he quotes the Holy Bible. Our children wander blindly
in the back alleys of our cities; our young ladies have lost all virtue. We
stumble on the international scene as blind men, drunk on the wine of
materialism and godless socialism.
The Christian may sometime feel as Elijah – we are the ONLY ones left who bow
the knee to God; but such lack of hope denies our claims of faith. God has
preserved many souls and hearts who yet seek after Him and who have not bowed
the knee to Caesar. These are the remnant of God’s People who are sprinkled
across the landscape as salt upon our salad. America must pray again, and pray
with hope and conviction. Had the church lived up to her role as an immutable
source of truth and conviction, we would not have sunk to this level of
depravity. Men and women may attend church every Sunday, but they lay their
Bibles on the shelf above their dusty prayer tables and await the next Sunday
during which they will go to church to be spoon fed the Word of God without
ever confirming a single Word spoken from the pulpit.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. Let us account it so, not just with our
calendars, but with our hearts, minds, and all of our being. Let us pray that
God will yet spare America from the judgment which she deserves, and by His
grace, speak those words above our prairies and alabaster temples that He spoke
on that first day of Creation – “Let there be Light, and there WAS Light.”
“God of our Fathers, God of Light and Love, and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ: we ask for thy blessings and grace upon our beloved America – not the
America that has rebelled to thy Word, but that America to be revived by your
Word that has always placed their trust in thee. We ask that thou would restore
a love of justice, of righteous endeavor, and of brotherly love among our
mingled masses gathered from the four quarters of the world. Strengthen our
faith and will to serve thee, and weaken our spirits of depravity and
rebellion. Restore us again as a Beacon Light of Hope to the nations of the
world. Cause us to love thee more, and the world less. In the end, bring us to
repentance and forgiveness through thy most gracious love and blessing for
which we will give thee all honor and glory; in the Name of Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen”
