Looking Good for 247 Years

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NIV)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Preambles are important to set the tone and expectations of books, programs, and especially nations. The original signers of the Declaration of Independence sought to set in motion a government for all the people. Like a mighty river that begins from the tributaries of small rivers and creeks, coursing through the many bends and turns of its path until growing into a powerful, rushing river; so, it is with nations.

Stephen Lucas writes that these words inscribed in the Declaration of Independence have been called “one of the best-known sentences in the English language“, containing “the most potent and consequential words in American history“. For 247 years the American people have sought to capture the ideas set out in these words. America’s history has often been blemished and stained from our failure to live up to these challenging concepts, yet the soul of our nation is filled with hopes and aspirations to be greater than any one event.

The preamble of the Declaration of Independence would set the stage for the preamble of the Constitution that would be penned during the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787. It was the passion and desire of those who ratified the Constitution to change the course of history and events until the goals of these words were achieved for all.

Unity was somehow forged among a diverse group of men, ideas, and cultures resulting in the framing of the document called the United States Constitution. The 52-word preamble set the tone for the document that could and would shape a future nation. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Men of clay feet laid the groundwork of independence and drafted a constitution with a desire that their children and their children’s children and their neighbor’s children would someday embellish the heart of these words and make a better nation. Each generation has built upon a solid foundation to right the things that were wrong and build for the next generation.

God set in motion a new nation in Genesis 12 when he appeared to Abraham with a most interesting preamble, “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” I am sure Abraham found it difficult to picture a great nation when there was no land, people, or resources. God even goes one step further and enlarges the vision by telling Abraham, “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.” (Genesis 17:6)

Nations and governments have come and gone from the pages of history since God set in motion a great nation arising from Abraham. Yet a mighty nation did arise and continues to arise each day as people come to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

As the United States approaches its 247^th birthday, we can either mourn the failures and shortcomings of the past or look with hope to the future. Today we face a multitude of challenges that can either weaken or strengthen the nation, it all depends upon where we put our hope and faith.

The stains of the past, whether as nations or individuals, will always be with us but we are not condemned to live in our past. When brought to the foot of the cross, the stains of the past can be reshaped to display a beautiful new mosaic of color and designs.  It is in the light of the cross that the condemned and broken find the only beacon of true independence as the word, forgiven, scratches through the words and works of the past because of the abundant grace and mercy of Jesus.

The founders of our nation had a vision of what we could become when we are united. It is in a time such as this that our nation needs the church and individuals to pray for grace-filled reconciliation, spirit-led unity, and Christ-centered forgiveness.  As we celebrate our 247^th birthday, maybe part of the celebration should be reading aloud the words that God gave Solomon in 2 Chronicles on the night of the temple dedication. Can you imagine what would happen if we truly sought God’s face, turn from our wicked ways and ask Him to heal our land? Only in God can we truly live out the dream of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Happy 4^th of July

God is great!