One Nation Under God

Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 

When we examine our nation closely we are forced to make a decision on it's condition.  The Word of God draws a contrast.  On one hand we see a blessing and on the other we see a reproach.  What makes the difference?  Righteousness!  God will exalt a nation that manifests righteousness.  In the Old Testament we see a wonderful illustration of the biblical principle.  

God's chosen people the nation of Israel were instructed to go into the Promised Land and to possess it.  Joshua led Israel into the promise land and they marched around the city of Jericho and followed God's instructions on how it was to be done.  We all know the end of the story.  Jericho fell to the hands of Joshua and Israel and they celebrated a great victory.  Israel was exalted as they followed God's instruction and God's way. After Israel conquered Jericho they endeavored to go up and conquer Ai, but their mission failed.  Joshua knew that something was wrong and sought the Lord for the reason for their failure.  God had instructed the nation of Israel not to take of the accursed thing.  Achan one of the men of Israel disregarded God's instructions and took of the accursed thing.  Notice his confession in Joshua 7:21 "When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."  The sin of one man became a reproach to the entire nation of Israel.

The principles of God's Word remain the same for any nation.  God never changes according to the Book of Hebrews 13:8.  If a nation turns away from God and turns toward sin the result will be a reproach upon that nation.  When we look at our own country, the United States of America, we see a nation that was founded upon Christian principles.  Founded by men that knew and loved God and wanted to see biblical principles lived out by this new nation.  Over time, just like Israel and many other nations we have seen a moral and spiritual decline in our nation.  We see sin rampant on every hand.  We see people with no time for God or any of the things of God.  We see a nation that has forgotten the righteousness of God but has grown increasingly darker as we move along our own paths, giving our lives over to selfish pursuits without regard for others.  We kicked God our of our public schools and declared that nativity scenes had no place on the lawn of public buildings.  We have forgotten whom it was that has blessed our nation for so many years.  The only thing left to us is the reproach of sin.  The only hope is that of a spiritual revival taking place in our land.  God's people humbling themselves and seeking God's face and earnestly praying for that which only God can do.  As God's children it's time to stand and not give place to the encroaching darkness, but allow the light of God to shine through us to a cold, dark world.