America's Only Hope

America's Only Hope!

Every year -- on July 4th -- Americans celebrate Independence Day! This week we once again thank God for our freedom as a Nation! And as Christians we should be thankful for our nation that guarantees our right to worship God as we see fit.

Some may say -- thankful? -- For America?

Thankful for a continual rising cost of living? -- For an upsurge of crime?

For a steady decreasing moral code?

For growing callousness among her people?

For dishonesty in high places? -- For disintegrating home life?

Yes! -- Thank God for America! Thank God that there are still Americans who care & who have tender hearts toward the wounded & the needy! Thank God for freedom -- for justice -- for privacy -- for America!

Of course America has needs: -- our greatest need being an old-time -- sin-convicting -- soul-searching -- soul-saving -- revival! That's what America needs -- more than anything else! May we see it even yet in our generation!

Yes -- there's a lot wrong with our country -- but there's a lot right with it, too. -- It is still the best country in all the world. So as Christians -- we need to uphold America -- pray for it -- & be loyal to it. -- Thank You, Lord, for America.

I have chosen for my text this morning a verse found in the Proverbs. The Old Testament Book of Proverbs contains some 900 or so inspired sayings -- or mottoes -- composed by King Solomon. They are just as true today as when they were first spoken! That is one of the marvelous things about the inspired Word of God. Proverbs 14:34 -- Listen carefully to what it says. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (KJV). -- Or to put it another way -- "Godliness exalts a nation -- but sin is a disgrace to any people" (NLT).

As I look at this text today -- I can go two ways. First -- I can talk about why God should punish America; -- or second, I can talk about why God should bless America.

If I were to preach this sermon on why God should judge America -- I would describe our sins & our disobedience as a nation. I would try to make Americans feel guilty & convicted over her sins. But I don't want to do that. I want to rehearse in your ears what America did to become great. This sermon is to make you thirsty so you want our nation to be great once again.

"Why should God bless America?" God should bless America because we have been a good nation. God should bless America because we are a giving people. God should bless America because we have attempted to carry out the Great Commission to go into all the world & make disciples. We have tried to do the right thing -- & "Godliness exalts a nation -- but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Someone has asked: -- "What do you see in the flag of your country?" To one man it is merely a rag -- a mere piece of cloth to be used for purpose of decoration. To another -- it is a sacred symbol typical of all that is holiest -- a symbol of the sacrifices of a great nation -- a symbol of freedom, justice, truth, & international good will. What you see in that flag determines the quality of your citizenship!

My friends -- no other nation of the world has grown to such titanic heights in so brief a time as has America. America has grown from strength to strength! In a little over two hundred years of national existence -- the government of every large nation has undergone a significant change: -- China, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain -- but not America!

Despite crookedness among some of its leaders -- the Declaration of Independence -- & the Constitution of the United States have stood the test of time. God was in the hearts of those men who put their possessions -- their liberties -- & their very lives on the line as they placed their bold signatures on the Declaration of Independence on that day of July 4, 1776.

Face it! -- Recognize it! -- No country has ever produced so unselfish -- so utterly devoted -- so patriotic a leadership -- at least not in as large numbers -- as we find in the founding fathers of this nation. Men like George Washington -- John Adams -- Thomas Jefferson -- Benjamin Franklin -- John Hancock -- Patrick Henry -- & many others.

So allow me to develop this rather unique outline this morning -- asking three questions: -- What is America? -- Where is America? -- & third, Why is America? You may not agree with me in all the details -- but in anticipation of celebrating Independence Day this week -- please bear with me!

1. First, the question -- What Is America?

America is an ideal! What our politicians are today -- you may be the judge; -- I am not prepared to debate on this issue. But as for our founding fathers -- every one of them were idealists. Recall the replicas of the Declaration of Independence you have seen. Remember the signatures at the bottom -- particularly the bold & large signature of John Hancock. Realize that the Declaration was a serious treasonable document. Whoever signed it immediately became a traitor against the British Empire -- to be hunted down by the soldiers of the Crown.

The delegates gathered in that assembly in Philadelphia were not eager to sign such a document -- because they understood the consequences. After a protracted pause -- John Hancock, picking up the goose-quill pen -- dipped it into the ink -- & declared as he signed the Declaration -- "We may as well hang together as hang apart." And the others signed after him -- 56 altogether. -- They were idealists!

George Washington -- one of the richest men in the Colonies -- an officer in the British Army -- accepted the commission of Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army -- knowing that this would be considered the most traitorous act of all.

America is also an experiment! -- No one know for sure if the ideal would work -- or if a democracy could survive.

Just look back over the years of time. The Italians fight the Greeks; -- the Greeks fight the Turks; -- the French fight the Germans; -- the Russians fight the Poles; -- the English fight the Irish. And yet -- these same nationalities -- with the same customs -- the same blood -- the same traditions -- have come to the shores of these United States to form one nation "indivisible, with liberty & justice for all." Oh sure -- they still fight each other -- but not with guns, bombs, bullets; -- but rather with ballots, with baseballs, footballs, basketballs.

What is the difference? It can only be that God Almighty wants America -- the Melting Pot of the nations -- to be an example for the rest of the world to learn the great lesson that men can & will live in peace & unity -- if they will only give God the chance!

It is an experiment to see whether the common people can be trusted with the ballot -- with responsible government places -- with authority in civil & in military life. Abraham Lincoln once said: -- "God must love the common people; -- He made so many of them."

America is an experiment in the hands of God -- to show the world what God can do with a people who are willing to recognize His Lordship -- His ownership -- & who will give to Him their devotion -- their loyalty. It is the opportunity for God to pour out His riches blessings -- such as no other nation has ever known before. American is an experiment to demonstrate the truth of Scripture when it says: -- "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

But America is also a dream! The American dream is still very much alive -- proven by the fact that so many people still want to enter our borders! It is a dream of parents who -- because of poverty, or lack of opportunity -- denied the privileges of higher education -- are willing to make any sacrifice so that their children may not miss the chance of getting ahead -- the chance at real living. It is the dream of the soldier -- hating oppression -- who is willing to give his "last full measure of devotion" -- for the right to "liberty, equality & the pursuit of happiness."

May the ideal -- the experiment -- the dream -- live on in our hearts!

2. But having asked, What is America? -- let me also ask, Where is America?

Today -- in a storm-tossed world of conflicting ideologies -- & battling philosophies -- "Where is America?" Very simply put, America is at the Crossroads! America is at the crossroads both politically & economically -- but most importantly -- America is at the crossroads spiritually!

Most people are unaware that our Declaration of Independence did not come into being until after a day of prayer & fasting had been observed. Such a day of prayer -- was appointed by the Continental Congress -- & was kept by all the colonies on May 17, 1776. Then on July 4, 1776 -- the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the 13 colonies.

At that time in our history -- God & the Bible were given more reverence & recognition than they are today. Today -- in much of our society -- it is politically correct to despise God's Holy Word! -- Shame on us!

America has been blessed in its history because it was founded upon Biblical principles. Once we were called a "Christian Nation." Today, we are often referred to as a "Post-Christian Nation."

All across America today -- we are seeing awful moral decay -- the rise of the occults -- rampant sexual abnormality -- & raging "in your face" atheism. -- America is in serious trouble today! True liberty & freedom can never be enjoyed by people who refuse to honor God Almighty!

America needs God today! We have tried everything else in America! We have pursued pleasure until today we spend more for entertainment than any other country of the world. We have sought knowledge until we hold first place in the matters of inventions & science & technology. We have reached out after wealth until we have become the richest country in the world. But what American needs most of all -- is to repent of her sins & to turn back to Almighty God! "Godliness exalts a nation -- but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Israel is a Jewish nation; -- Saudi Arabia is a Muslim nation; -- India is a Hindu country -- but what kind of Country is America today? It may not be the politically correct position to take; -- but, nevertheless -- it is true! -- It's time for us to get America back to God! Only as America blesses God -- can God bless America!

America is at the crossroads spiritually; -- there is still hope for our Land! So let's pray for our nation -- & in the process -- recommit ourselves to living as God's people should! My friends -- if America stands strong in God -- no group of terrorist can ever bring it down!

I have been reading lately the biography of Henry Ward Beecher. His sister -- Harriet Beecher Stowe, wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin -- a book that Abraham Lincoln said "brought on the Civil War." Henry Beecher was the most famous preacher in America in his day. He found international fame by shedding his father's fire & brimstone -- & preached instead a "Gospel of Love" -- thus, becoming a founding father of our modern Evangelical Christian message of love & grace. As I have been reading this biography -- I come across the stories of revivals that swept our land from time to time. And as I read those reports -- I find myself praying -- "God, do it again!" The arm of the Lord is not shortened -- that He cannot save! Oh, may we see a real genuine revival in America in our day!

3. Finally, let's look at the question -- Why Is America?

Perhaps I should ask the question this way: -- "For Whom Is America?"

The greatness of America is not in its capitalism -- with its generous investments in schools -- in its research in both the arts & sciences. America is a Capitalist Nation, of course. Capitalism has done a very great deal to raise our standards -- to build our factories -- our industries -- our transportation -- our technology -- along with our schools -- our libraries -- our institutions. None of us can deny that fact.

But is this why America exists? -- Just for capitalism? -- No! -- A thousand times no! -- Our founding fathers believed in a Creator! They placed God at the foundation of this nation -- recognizing that He created the world. They believed that God created all men in His own image. We are not the product of evolution; -- we didn't evolve from a lower species; -- rather, we have great rights because we got them from God. Jesus Christ, Himself, is the Creator of all things! -- "All things were made by him; & without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).

America is for Christ! -- That is why America exists! America is for Christ -- our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ! He is the only One worthy enough so that a free America can bow to Him without shame. He is the only One wise enough to lead us into the paths that will carry us to increasingly loftier heights. He is the only One able enough to command our men, our money, our very lives in whatever the future may hold for us.

Our answer is not found in the Republicans -- nor in the Democrats.

Our answer is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ!

Give Christ His rightful place in our hearts -- & in the heart of our nation!

My friends -- don't sell America short by forsaking our God given Christian heritage! Let us never be ashamed of our Christian foundations as a nation! The only way America can be sold short is by denying Christ His chance in the affairs of our land -- especially at this very day of national & international crisis.

God has not raised up this nation -- blessed it beyond its fondest hopes -- endowed it with a race of men & women such as have populated our great Land -- just to sell it short! Only Americans can help or hinder America! -- Only Americans can hurt our Land! -- Only Americans can sell America short! How? -- America is being sold short by crooked businessmen; -- by dishonest politicians; -- by college professors, who take advantage of immature minds to fill them with the poison of evolution & socialism; -- by statesmen who compromise their principles; -- & even more so, by so-called religious leaders who pollute the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ!

But, beyond that -- America is being sold short by the multitudes on the rolls of our churches who have never experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ; -- who bearing the holy name of the Son of God -- belie their testimonies & tarnish the name of their Savior & Lord. America is being sold short by Christians who are not "all out" for the Lord Jesus Christ -- not loyal to their vows -- not obedient to the commands of their Master -- not true to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

My dear friends -- America must not be sold short -- & America shall not be sold short -- so long as there is a Bible to cherish -- a church in which to worship -- a cross by which to be saved -- a Holy Spirit to empower -- souls to save -- a Master to follow -- a Heaven to gain -- & hearts that are concerned about the spiritual welfare of men. The battle cry of our beloved nation should always be -- at home & abroad -- "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

Conclusion: -- Well, you have heard my plea!

Far too often -- we take our freedom for granted. Here we sit today, praying, singing, fellowshipping, worshiping God together, reading His Word -- without fear of reprisal, intimidation, persecution, & with no restriction from the government, whatsoever. It is a blessing we very much take for granted -- & one we may lose if we are not careful.

Will you agree with me that -- it is not just our religious duty -- but also our patriotic duty as well -- that every American ought to pray for -- to work for a national revival of religion -- which will insure our nation is on God's side -- & that He in turn may be on our side?

America must return to God! -- America must return to the principles that helped make this nation great! -- America's only hope is God! Nothing short of a national return to God will bring about a rebirth of real freedom! "Godliness exalts a nation -- but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Stand -- & sign along with me: -- God Bless America.

God Bless America, Land that I love.

Stand beside her & guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies

To the oceans white with foam.

God Bless America -- My home sweet home,

God Bless America -- My home sweet home.

Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ