The Independence Day holiday was (and is) a "big" thing where I grew up in southern New Jersey. Gatherings included not just our family but loads of friends, and no one worried about crowd control or social distancing. In fact, the opposite was true, the more the merrier.
This summer holiday had
all the bells and whistles – literally.
It included the five “F’s” - family, friends, food, and fun, but it was the evening main
event everyone looked forward to all day long … fireworks!
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From the Ground Up
Everyone kept a close
eye on the clock as the sun started to set. By 8:30 p.m. each family packed in their vehicles and headed to a local fireworks event somewhere so we could be in position at 9 o'clock p.m. to see the first set of "crackers" being lit.
No matter which
direction you chose to travel, there was never a shortage of places to go see
the fabulous aerial explosions for entertaining the masses. There was a reason we had found such favor!
Since 1890, the Santore
family owned the Garden State Fireworks Company in NJ. It is the largest manufacturer of these dynamic
creations in the country!
Anyone who
witnessed an event put on by the Grand World Champion Master "Fireworker" show
stoppers, under no circumstances ever left disappointed!
The only real issue was
getting a position by a waterfront for the best view of the ground displays. Stretching out large blankets, one-by-one we
prepared for the spectacular to see what was prepared for all those who chose
to attend.
In the black of night,
the atmosphere changed with the illuminations. From the ground and up to the skies,
the light had overcome darkness with the concluding grand finale exhibition.
As the smokey haze dropped
down on the crowd like a heavenly covering after the grand finale, peace and joy were in
the hearts of the attentive audience. Voicing
our amazement of what we had just witnessed, the testimony of America in the
displays, colors and designs made us proud to be living in a land where freedom
and the blessings of God’s favor once reigned.
The Solid Foundation
This weekend Americans will be celebrating July 4th in remembrance of how and why we became a nation. Sadly, our solid foundation is cracking and the core of our belief in God is crumbling.
As a teacher who lectured in Civics and American History, it grieves me that most citizens have forgotten or
were never taught about the beginning of this country and why it was established
in the first place. From the way things
look at this date, one would never know that Christ was a name above all names
spoken here.
It was in 1607 when the Jamestown
Settlers of Virginia erected a large cross, dedicating this nation to the Lord
when they first set foot on this soil.
In prayer they vowed to God to remain in covenant, teaching all
generations the reason behind their sacred commitment.
Their covenant was fashioned
after the details likely scripted by the pen of the prophet Ezra. In the Old Testament of the Bible in the books
of Chronicles (somewhere between 400-250 BC), he tells how the Israelites made a
promise to God. They based their
covenant on the favor promises made to their forefathers dating back to the Abrahamic
Covenant; the people of Israel still seek the same God Jehovah and His favor.
“They entered into a
covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with
all their soul.” (2 Chronicles 15:12 NKJV)
Although the books of
the Bible are not listed in chronological order, scholars believe Chronicles is
probably the last book written in the Old Testament, as it lists accounts of leaders
who followed after and led their nation back to God, as well as those who
turned away. There is good reason for
this opinion.
It is well documented in
scripture and secular writings that when a nation turns from the Lord, His hand
of favor is removed. The blessings stop
and the curses are allowed to overtake the country until it is no longer in
existence.
If America remains on
the path of unrighteousness, the favor she received from the beginning covenant
agreement from the original settlers will no longer be enjoyed by her citizens. America … we are in jeopardy of receiving God’s
judgement, because we have wavered from the original solid foundation covenant agreement, which we stood on and believed!
The American Dream … Is
It Lost?
In the beginning formation
of America our forefathers wrote down their foundational values, beliefs and
reasons for forming this country, the Word of God was always the base. It was the “seed” growth of the American
Christian Republic that would produce the fruit of the American Dream.
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| See details here. |
The Christians colonized
the states, wrote the laws according to the Bible, chartered education and
served in leadership in every area of life. This held true for 128 documents comprising the
covenants, compacts, charters and constitutions written for the colonization of America including this statement in 1621, that their primary endeavor
was:
“.. in advancement and
of the honor and service of the Almighty God and the enlargement of His
Kingdom.”
Other excerpts from a
few covenant agreements with God …
The Mayflower Compact
1620 - “In the name of God. Amen. We whose names are under written having
undertaken for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith and
the Honor of our King … do solemnly swear to covenant …"
The Salem Covenant 1629 –
“We Covenant with the Lord and one another, and do bind ourselves in the
presence of God, to walk in all His ways, according as He is pleased to reveal
Himself to us in His Blessed Word of truth.”
The Massachusetts Bay
Agreement 1629 – “Every one of us freely and sincerely promise to bind in the
word of a Christian and in the presence of God who is the searcher of all
hearts, to do His work with God’s assistance." (translated)
The Watertown Covenant
1630 – “… undertake for the promoting of His glory … forsake all evil ways, wholly
give ourselves unto the Lord Jesus, to do Him faithful service, observing and
keeping all His statutes, commands and ordinances in all manner concerning our
reformation.”
I could go on and on detailing the statements among the colonists and the newly formed governing officials. That isn't really necessary though, is it? We get the picture.
The list of covenant
contract agreements between each state and the Almighty God are written and
documented as the seeds that built America to what it is today, bearing the
fruit of liberty, justice, prosperity, and morality having received covenant favor
for obedience. Christian values
based on the truth of God for family, education and government are what made
America successful, not the power of mankind.
This is how a completely free nation is built, and how it remains free to live
the great dream.
Go Back to the Beginning
There was a time when the
Supreme Court affirmed that the land called the “United States of America” is
and was a Christian nation, undivided in truth under God as the only Lord and
ruler over her. This value no longer
stands as the core of the country and why biblical Covenant Favor is slipping
away rapidly.
Scriptures make it clear
that in order for a nation to be blessed by God, they must follow and obey Him,
placing Him only as Lord over the nation in all their decision making. It is the covenant we agreed upon and the one
He is obligated to honor.
“Blessed (favored,
abundantly blessed) is the nation whose God is the LORD.” (Psalm 33:12 KJV)
Citizens of America, we
must repent of our sins returning to the beginning foundation which stood on the
Solid Rock – Jesus Christ, seeking Him with all our heart and soul as a
nation. Without this we will not be
blessed, restored to God’s favor or even survive!
The covenant to bless,
protect and preserve a people has been broken by the actions of the nation as a
whole, leaving the Lord reason(s) to withdraw His promises. America’s citizens have sinned against our
covenant Partner and have not been wise in decision making in choosing to
follow after other idols and gods. We
have chosen to obey man and his laws rather than God’s. (from Matthew 7:24-27; Acts
5:29b)
Our salvation will come only
from the Lord through prayer and obedience, as the psalmist declared in Psalm
106 when He exposed the sin nature of man and magnified the grace of God to
forgive.
“Remember me (our
nation), O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your (covenant) people. Oh, visit me (us) with Your salvation.
That I (we) may see the (salvation) benefit of Your chosen ones, that I (we may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation. That I (we may glory with (the people of) Your inheritance.
Many times, He delivered
them but they rebelled in their counsel, and were brought low for their
iniquity.” (vs. 4-5)
Nevertheless, He
regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry (in repenting); and for
their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented according to the multitude
of His mercies (unmerited favor). (vs. 44-45)
Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to Your Holy name, to
triumph in Your praise. Blessed be the
LORD God of Israel (God of our forefathers) from everlasting to everlasting! And
let all the people say, Amen!” (from Psalm 106:4,5,44,45,47,48 NKJV emphasis for
clarity)
What Happened to the
Covenant?
There is no secret that
at times contracts, compacts and even a covenant may need a tweak or some
revision depending on whether or not conditions change. Here is the thing … what happened?
The stipulations in the original contract listed in the actual covenant document bearing the conditions of the agreement have not changed, and neither did God. Remember what He said in Malachi 3:6?
"I Am the LORD, I change not."
So, the question
remains, what happened and may I add, why isn’t America receiving unmerited favor from God as it had in the past? If
the conditions didn’t change and Hebrews 13:8 is right in that God remains the
same yesterday (from the beginning of earthly time including when He agreed to the contract), today and tomorrow, then what happened
to the “praise God from Whom all blessings flow” promise?
We, the people, changed. Therefore, the covenant bond was broken and
the benefits are no longer valid within the constitutional rights of the agreement
made by the individuals involved. It’s
the law, not ours, but God’s and we agreed to abide by it faithfully.
Now we know what happened. Ooops! Our bad …
Renewing of A Covenant
If America or any nation for that matter, is to have hope in remaining free or gaining freedom, we must take heed to the lessons from scriptures concerning the promises of God and stop persisting in breaking them!
Jesus made it clear on what to do in this situation. There is only one solution - repent and return to God for the forgiveness of sins. We must renew the original covenant in advancing the Christian faith by honoring and serving God to enlarge His Kingdom, making disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19)
Return to Covenant Favor
Over the years my
classroom has changed in where I give instruction, and what the government allows
in the curriculum has definitely changed.
Yet this saying holds true - history is always happening.
History breeds and
creates more history - it doesn’t change the past.
Right now, I’d like to
be focusing on the excitement of the upcoming holiday weekend. Besides seeing fantastic fireworks, this time
of year is special to my family involving a different kind of covenant.
However, global events along
with this nation’s historical uprisings, want to overshadow the celebration. This
cannot happen; there’s too much at risk. It causes me to pause and take a stand
to fight for my covenant partner relationship with Jesus.
Although food, family,
friends, fun and fireworks are things that make for great holidays in America,
there are two more things I respectfully revere that changes all the above
favorites. Freedom and God’s unmerited,
yet ever abundant, favor!
Last week we discussed that covenant
and fellowship with God go hand-in-hand when it comes to His favor. We learned how the favor of God was on the
prophet Jeremiah because he obeyed the voice of the Lord in delivering a really
bad message to a disobedient nation.
They were about to make “history”
out of Jeremiah when God’s favor on his life changed everything! There were two messages: Refuse to turn
back to God and be destroyed or return to Him and walk in His favor. What do you think happened? (Read here.)
There’s a mere spark and
glimmer of hope remaining for this here country. It’s not enough to set the
skies ablaze – but there’s still time if we act now in seeking the Lord.
“I love those who love Me,
and those who seek Me diligently will find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17 NKJV)
“For whoever finds Me
finds life and receives (obtains) favor from the LORD.” (Proverbs 8:35 NLT)
He’s waiting for us ... you, me ... all of us, to
seek and find Him. This means Jesus is a
covenant, promise keeper that longs to renew or begin a relationship with us
through salvation. Now that’s good news!
There’s no better time
than right now to make things right with God. Let us also pray with all our heart and soul,
"Remember our nation, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your (covenant) people. Oh, visit us with Your salvation."
United through Christ we will surely see victory as a nation, but if we remain divided by refusing to obey and seek the Lord with all our heart, then the America we know and love will indeed fall.
Each of us has a choice to make. Choose Christ so that He will walk in covenant favor, truly blessing the nation whose God is the Lord.
Until next
time, return to covenant favor!
“I will bless
a nation with favor who covenants with Me.”
- Jesus
Christ
P.S. - Happy Independence Day America. May freedom continue to ring, now and always!
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as
treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
What's New This Week: Click on the link below.
Pray for America: 40 Inspiring Stories and Prayers for Our Nation
by Dr. Robert Jeffress
Get it on Amazon or Christian Book
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Scripture
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