God Bless America

Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance."

Last week our President held a "Celebration of America" event on the South Lawn of the White House. During that ceremony not only was the National Anthem played but the song, "God Bless America." Oh, how my heart was gladdened when I saw and heard the rendition of Irving Berlin's song made popular by Kate Smith on her radio broadcast November 11, 1938. I couldn't help but think, "Now there is a President who feels the need for God's blessing on our great nation."

In a world that is torn and fractured, where everything good seems to be giving way to evil, people are feeling the need to draw closer to God more than ever before. They want to know that He is standing there in the shadows, He is watching over us, and blessing us, and keeping us till His Son's return.

The history of America has been wrapped around with the blessings of God. I think we can humbly say that God seems to have a peculiar love for this land. From the day of our nation's founding until today, His hand of blessing has been upon America.

1.    Many Great Nations Have Risen and Fallen

Pericles built a civilization (Athens) upon culture, and it failed. Caesar built a civilization (Rome) on power, it failed. 

The Medo-Persians had a great nation, but they drank themselves to their doom in one drunken orgy after another. That civilization came crashing down and perished from the face of the earth.  

Egypt thrived under Joseph. Four hundred years later the people had forgotten Joseph and his God – Egypt went down. Greece under Alexander, conquered the world, but he could not conquer himself. He died in a drunken stupor and Greece came tumbling down.

Rome was the proud ruler of the world, but luxury and lust ate that nation like a cancer, and she perished like Greece. 

America must not build on these things. If we do it will be our ruin as well. We must put our roots down deep in God and his Word.

2.    America was Founded as a Christian Nation

Our forefathers founded our great nation upon Christian religion, and America will live as long as the Lord is our God.

They left a land where they were persecuted to find a land where they were free to worship God. When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, they knelt upon the shore and thanked God for giving them a new country. 

The church of Jesus Christ was at the center of every new settlement in this new land. When the Continental Congress was faced with great problems and difficulties Benjamin Franklin called the members of Congress to fall upon their knees and pray. Can you imagine what would happened today if our legislative bodies in the house and senate prayed more and talked less?

James 5:16b "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

American history repeatedly demonstrates that the nation was founded on Christian principles and its founding fathers wished to acknowledge that fact all over Washington D.C. buildings, in official documents, and historical speeches. Less than a hundred years after its Declaration of Independence, In God We Trust was proclaimed on its coins. America is a free nation, and freedom of religion is still guaranteed in the Constitution’s First Amendment. 

President Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time" and asked ‘Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?’" 

The Bible says in, Psalms 118:8 "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." 

Today we still have on our money those majestic old words, "In God We Trust." Our forefathers knew that they were building on a firm foundation of God and His Word. 

Someone once said, "South America was settled my men seeking gold, but North America was settled by men seeking God."

Do you remember the picture of General George Washington at Valley Forge? His small army was almost starving and freezing to death. They were fighting against insurmountable odds – but out in the snow George Washington was down on his knees praying. 

That's the spirit that built America. She was founded on God, and if she is to live, we must keep building on that firm foundation.

Surely every American is proud and grateful to be an American! We are "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

- Pastor David Carroll,  Senior Pastor Sharon Baptist Church