Have we forgotten how we got this great country and gained our freedoms? In Psalm 44, the Psalmist remembers how God gave Israel their land. The story of our land in America is much the same. “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old... 3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them… 5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. 8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.”
Have we remembered this? Have we given God the glory and rejoiced in the salvations and deliverances that He has wrought? What has been the cry on many tongues this year? “Trump will make America great again!” “Trump will save America!” Yes, I have seen several times the claim that Trump will save America. What do people think Trump will save us from? Some felt he would save us from Hillary Clinton. He did win the election. Perhaps they think that has been accomplished. Others think he will save us from Muslims (or at least from radical Muslims and ISIS). Still others think that he will save us from “criminal and rapist” illegal immigrants. I even saw one youtube video on the description of which it was claimed that Trump had woken up early and saved America with a tweet. This had something to do with jobs and finances. So, it seems some believe he will also save us from financial ruin as well.
Neither Trump, nor any other person, has the power to do these things. Trump cannot save America! It does not matter how well intentioned Trump may be. He can neither save America nor make us great again. There is only One who can do those things, and that One is God. Have we boasted in Him? Are we trusting in Him rather than in our might and our arms? Do we realize that we exist and are sustained by His favor and that it is His right hand and arm and the light of His countenance that has gotten us this land and that can keep it for us? Have we cried, "God will make America great again!" or "God will save America!"? Do we realize that we have gotten up this morning and that we are not consumed because of God's great mercy?
Years ago, Evangelist Hyman Applemean pointed out that God gave Israel a law. He gave them a land. And He gave them a Lord. What did they do with the law? “What did they do with the land? What did they do with the Lord? They did exactly the same thing that the United States of America is doing with the law; exactly the same thing that the United States of America is doing with the land; exactly the same thing that the United States of America is doing with the Lord.” They defiled the land, defied the law and denied the Lord.
“Why talk about the Jews denying the Lord? At least they didn’t know He was the Messiah. At least they were not sure of it. At least the gospel had not been fully preached unto them [although in Jesus’ day the Messiah was revealed unto them]. But here, the great majority of Americans, if they were to be questioned, would definitely say, ‘Yes I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.’ Yet the same great majority will have nothing to do with Him.”*
What is our excuse? If we already know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; if we claim to be Christians, then what is our excuse? Have we so soon forgotten our God and what He did for us?
* Thoughts from the sermon “The Jew in History and Destiny” by Evangelist Hyman Appleman.
Turn Again to the Lord