Into the Fire

I only know I choke up when I see a sticker on a car window proclaiming a branch of the armed services, when I see a license plate declaring the vehicle is owned by a veteran, or when any serviceman talks about this country with a passion in his heart and voice. I choke up and often can’t control the tears which threaten to fall.

Yes, we have a country in the throes of sinfulness, accelerated by the philosophies of this world encroaching upon the foundation principles of this great nation. And we can rant and rave about its decline, but to what end? We must instead be thankful for those who have fought for its freedom and paved the way for its enormous contribution to the world we live in because of God’s grace extended to us who live within its territory. Soldiers of all colors, kinds, and gender sacrificed, laid down their lives, gave it all that we might hold onto the values which have made this country the greatest in the world.

Today is a day set aside to honor the fallen, the ones who have, from day one to the present, continued to fight for a cause so noble that God Himself has chosen to continue to make their sacrifices mean something on this earth. He has kept this nation sovereign even in its corruption because of those who have laid down their lives in prayer and in death to preserve what He established.

The next time you want to criticize this country, think about the other countries of this world where genocide reigns against members of same races but different religions, where tyrannical “leaders” butcher any they want to eliminate from opposition to their evil ways, where atheism is accentuated but Christianity prevails underground, where demonic forces rule to exterminate simple people who wish to worship the One True God, where pacifism has produced peoples of few values and little courage, where ungodly governments have robbed incentive as they provide for peoples’ “needs”. Think about these things as you tear into this country.

And sometimes, however unfortunate, we are forced to examine the ugly workings of the political machine because ultimately there will be a Commander-in-Chief to take up the headship of this great country and either drive it into a malaise or help guide it to new heights of accomplishment. And because of that factor, we must be honest in our views of candidates who will lead our great military as well as examine their views of human life at its inception and conception. We must also remember we, as Christians, are responsible to examine the real character of those candidates as much as we’re allowed before we make the important decision to vote. If we have nothing else to go on, we must choose a candidate that will uphold the sanctity of life and honorably lead the military.

It is those who are in our great military services who have stood firm in the face of improbable and outrageous odds to provide what this country needed to remain a force in the world, preserving the principles and freedoms of the United States of America.

We are not a perfect nation because no nation has ever attained that status—even the chosen nation of Israel. We are a sinful people battling our own lusts throughout our lifetimes. But we are Americans, and we can say it in humility and a kind of “pride” that comes from God alone in that He has preserved us against all intruders. So far we have remained stalwart against debilitating invasion and amidst overwhelming assaults on numerous countries around this world. We have never sought to rule beyond our accepted borders or territories and have struggled through alliances with nations who became rogues and turned against us and our ideals.

Yet even in our failings our God has kept us steady. Not everyone acknowledges it is His favor that sustains us and ordains our powerful influence in this world, but it is undeniable. Once again on this day of memorializing those who’ve fought and died for our freedom(s), we must honor our Lord for his benevolence, longsuffering, and merciful grace in granting us, the United States of America, continued allegiance to His power and His ideals: the two factors which have made this country of fallen soldiers and fallen man great.

God bless the USA and the memories of soldiers who’ve given their lives to preserve it.

Father, thank you for keeping this country intact, for shedding your grace upon it, for continuing to show us your mercy and your love. You are our strength, our protection, and our hope. Apart from you we can do nothing. We honor you, Lord. We know your purposes are divine and far reaching, even into eternity. Your ways are higher than our own. We plead for your continued mercy and grace upon the country you have raised up and made great. We ask for a deep conviction of our sins to fall upon the land leading to repentance and revival. We are truly desperate for you. We ask it all in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Please remember Kristy Dykes in her valiant battle against the final stages of GBM brain cancer.*