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The year of 1777 in America brought bad news almost every day. In the fight for Independence our Revolutionary army had lost most of their battles. Most Americans were very discouraged. Even the Continental Congress had been driven from Philadelphia and were at their lowest. Sam Adams, the man among them who had fought longest and hardest for American Independence, arose and gave a stirring speech. At the end of it he boldly declared that, “Good tidings will soon arrive.” He was not wrong. Within a month American forces would win the Battle of Saratoga in New York. It proved our rag tag army could stand up to the best the British had—and win. It greatly encouraged our people, and would ultimately bring France into the war on our side. The Battle of Saratoga has been called one of the seven greatest military battles of all time because of its importance in establishing American liberty.
Today we need to take heart from this experience as we struggle with the socialists who now lead our national government. Our Founders sought the face of God, crying to Him for His aid in their struggle, which they believed was part of His plan. They often called days of fasting and prayer and sought to repent of their sins, both personal and nationally, in an effort to be in His order so they could experience His blessing. He heard their prayers and did miracles to keep them in the fight. Those miracles would ultimately give them victory in the War as they had given them victory in the Battle of Saratoga.
After winning the Saratoga Battle, our national government called a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” to God, as they said, “through the merits of Jesus Christ” to show their gratitude toward God for intervention on behalf of the cause of American liberty. The resolution for that day read, in part, as follows: Notice the references to God by our national Congress in 1777, as they urged the people to;
“With one heart and one voice…express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor.” [They urged them to offer a] “penitent confession of their [many] sins…that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ…to forgive…them;…that He may graciously [give] His blessing on the Governments of these States…and render them fit instruments, under the Providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings—independence and peace…to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty…under His nurturing hand…for the…enlargement of that kingdom which consists in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
(B.F.Morris, Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States (Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864), pp.530-531.)
If we will acknowledge our sin as Americans, both personal sins and national sins, we can expect God’s forgiveness and healing in this land. Dr. Stephen McDowell of the Providence Foundation, has recently said it so well! I quote him:
“Our best hope…for seeing the Godly cause of liberty prevail, is to put our trust…in the same God who inspired Samuel Adams and the Founders of America.” Then he adds we must “take action to resist the tyranny of our current government.”
If we are willing to “humble ourselves and pray and seek His face” (2nd Chronicles 7:14) or to put it in McDowell’s words, “If we act worthy of God’s aid and protection, He will never abandon us…and we can have confidence that (as Sam Adams said) ‘good tidings will soon arrive’.”
Think about it; because if you don’t, someone else will do your thinking for you—and for your children! And you won’t like what that brings to you. I’m Don Pinson; this has been Think About It.