A
Changeless Truth
In an ever-changing world, there
remains one constant that is unchanging, and that is TRUTH. In
modern-day America, however, TRUTH has become a rare commodity. The
following is just one of thousands of immutable, changeless TRUTHS by
which God views the earth: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is
a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
Righteousness has several
applications. First, there is the righteousness, the absolute
perfection, that God is in His person, his character. Secondly, there
is the righteousness exhibited by God in his dealings with
men. He ALWAYS does the right thing when dealing
with mankind. Thirdly is the righteousness of conduct that
comports with the Law, the Ten Commandments. God gave these precepts to
Israel, the millions who left Egypt, as a moral standard whereby they
could maintain a proper relationship with HIM as well as to ONE
ANOTHER.
The verb “exalteth” means “to be
lifted up, to be raised.” The righteousness in view is the degree of
moral rectitude as revealed in the Law. The nation whose established
standards of righteous conduct conform to the Law are the better for it
and elevate their quality of life. Contrariwise, a nation that sins,
that ‘misses the mark’ of righteousness by abandoning these Laws as
behavioral guidelines, brings “reproach” (shame) upon itself. The word
includes the idea of unkindness within a society.
For a nation to recognize the triune,
thrice-holy God of scripture as the ONLY true God is the RIGHT thing
for that nation to do (Exodus 20:3). To avoid making material images to
replace a God who is spirit is the RIGHT thing for that nation to do
(20:4-6).
For a nation to reverence God’s name,
to avoid taking it upon their lips in a flippant, frivolous manner, is
the RIGHT thing for a nation to do (20:7). To observe a Sabbath “rest”
principle as a way to acknowledge and honour Him, is the RIGHT thing
for a nation to do (20:8-11).
For a nation to uphold and honour the
God-ordained family structure, with children giving the proper
esteem and respect to fathers and mothers, is the RIGHT thing for a
nation to do (20:12). For a nation to condemn and
eschew murder, adultery, stealing, lying and coveting others’
stuff are RIGHT things for a nation to do (20:13-17).
America’s leaders have done all they
can to jettison God from the public domain and its policy decisions.
We’ve codified infanticide, sexual perversion, and stealing $trillions
from future generations with our National Debt. We’ve practically made
pathological lying a requirement for holding political office, and
deified materialism. It’s obvious to the most casual observer America
ain’t what she used to be.
In 1630, John Winthrop, one of the
early settlers, delivered a sermon in which he used the phrase “city on
a hill” to describe the expectation that the Massachusetts Bay colony
would SHINE like an example to the world. In the 1970’s, Ronald Reagan
took up that phrase to brand his political career, to reiterate what he
envisioned America to be, a SHINING beacon, for the rest of the world.
That vision got him elected President in 1980 against the backdrop of
Jimmy Carter’s “malaise.”
America in 2021 is exuding an
unrighteous degree of DARKNESS like at no time in its previous history.
When I hear a politician tell me “America’s back!” or “America’s best
days are yet to come!,” I MUST conclude they’re delusional, void of ANY
spiritual intelligence whatsoever. “Righteousness exalteth a nation” is
a CHANGELESS TRUTH. But there’s not enough righteous light shining from
America’s shores right now to light a single candle.
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