"When He stops, the earth shakes. When He looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One! " (Habakkuk 3:6, NLT)
A former Secretary of State, when asked why America was hated so much in the world, replied, "It isn't easy being the big kid on the block." No one wants to be beholden to anyone. Yet the reality is that Europe is free today because of the United State's presence there from 1945 to 1990. We were largely responsible for the end of WW 1, the defeat of Germany and Japan in WW 2, the this-is-as-far-as-you-go 38th Parallel. Sorry, Vietnamese People; we failed you. We outspent Russia during the cold war and saw the demise of the Soviet Union. All the other rogue nations in the world are being held at bay because of the strength of the United States Military. Where the USA goes from here, literally, only God knows. The resolve of the United States of America of pre 1950 is very questionable. Yet today I am thankful to all who have served in the US Military and those who died so that I can freely write this without the threat of a gulag or concentration camp.
There is no guarantee in Scripture of political, social, economic or religious freedom. In fact, all of Scripture reveals Kingdom History, including the Jews and the Church, as a fight against, "principalities and powers," enemies manifested in world governments, as someone once said, "out to loot the...Planet." There have been "good" nations which have won and lost. "Evil" nations have won and lost. Yet whatever political freedom there is in the world today fundamentally, "is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes". The rest of Hab. 3 describes beautifully the deliverance/victory which can only come in Jesus Christ: "I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in terror. Was it in anger, Lord, that You struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were You displeased with them? No, You were sending Your chariots of salvation! You brandished Your bow and Your quiver of arrows....The sun and moon stood still in the sky as Your brilliant arrows flew and Your glittering spear flashed. You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in Your fury."
On this Memorial Day here in the USA we honor those who gave their lives for freedom. But for me there is no doubt that it is Our Lord Jesus Christ, "King of kings, and Lord of lords," who is the victor, "the Captain of [our] salvation," Who, "gives us the victory."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for all You have done and are doing, not only in the USA, but all nations. You Alone are my freedom. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Amen.
A former Secretary of State, when asked why America was hated so much in the world, replied, "It isn't easy being the big kid on the block." No one wants to be beholden to anyone. Yet the reality is that Europe is free today because of the United State's presence there from 1945 to 1990. We were largely responsible for the end of WW 1, the defeat of Germany and Japan in WW 2, the this-is-as-far-as-you-go 38th Parallel. Sorry, Vietnamese People; we failed you. We outspent Russia during the cold war and saw the demise of the Soviet Union. All the other rogue nations in the world are being held at bay because of the strength of the United States Military. Where the USA goes from here, literally, only God knows. The resolve of the United States of America of pre 1950 is very questionable. Yet today I am thankful to all who have served in the US Military and those who died so that I can freely write this without the threat of a gulag or concentration camp.
There is no guarantee in Scripture of political, social, economic or religious freedom. In fact, all of Scripture reveals Kingdom History, including the Jews and the Church, as a fight against, "principalities and powers," enemies manifested in world governments, as someone once said, "out to loot the...Planet." There have been "good" nations which have won and lost. "Evil" nations have won and lost. Yet whatever political freedom there is in the world today fundamentally, "is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes". The rest of Hab. 3 describes beautifully the deliverance/victory which can only come in Jesus Christ: "I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in terror. Was it in anger, Lord, that You struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were You displeased with them? No, You were sending Your chariots of salvation! You brandished Your bow and Your quiver of arrows....The sun and moon stood still in the sky as Your brilliant arrows flew and Your glittering spear flashed. You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in Your fury."
On this Memorial Day here in the USA we honor those who gave their lives for freedom. But for me there is no doubt that it is Our Lord Jesus Christ, "King of kings, and Lord of lords," who is the victor, "the Captain of [our] salvation," Who, "gives us the victory."
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for all You have done and are doing, not only in the USA, but all nations. You Alone are my freedom. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
