A Nation Rebuilt

Yet over the last forty years this country has begun to lose its moral and spiritual bearings, just as Israel did in history.   It began with influential people who were not self-controlled, and considered their rights more important than others.  Before long our nation began to listen.  Soon there was a noticeable relaxation of moral standards.  Ethics blurred, mercy became more sought than justice, and individual rights more important than responsibilities.  Now the public arena is filled with leaders who are actively against both Christians and Jews, calling them intolerant and decrying any mention of the God upon which this country was founded.  Devout people often find themselves in the minority, while the general public is encouraged to think that right and wrong are relative concepts and can be decided individually.  And, as these changes have occurred, so also have other changes.  Politicians and people of power are more and more often found to be corrupt.  Justice must be bought in the courts by high priced lawyers.  Taxes increase each year, government gets fatter each year, but our protection wanes and our finances suffer.  We are fast approaching a time when we may find ourselves in a predicament similar to that of the Israelites.

God’s protection over this country has been obvious to all historians who are willing to admit it.  Never should a rag-tag Revolutionary army been able to defeat the British Regulars, then considered the most fearsome armed forces in the world.  Never should the United States armed forces been able to defeat the strategic strength of the German Nazis in World War II.  Example after example can be cited of providential intervention, both nationally and individually.  This is not said to belittle or ignore the heroics of the men and women involved; simply to give credit where credit is due.  This nation has enjoyed great blessing in the past, and she is turning her back on it now.  God is ignored more and more, and being a loving God He is allowing Americans to make their own choices.  But we must understand that, while we have the right to push Him out of a place of importance, we will one day pay the price for that decision; not because God is vengeful, but because He honors our choice.

Nehemiah was a real man and a Biblical hero.  In the course of his life he realized things were not right, and he earnestly desired to fix it.  But how does one man go about fixing the ills of an entire nation?  To find his answer he read, he studied, and he prayed.  Then he chose one problem that he could tackle, and found a way to tackle it.  Then he persevered for a lifetime.

As individuals we can do much to fight injustice, but we must do it as Ned did.  We must study history and learn its lessons; we must study God and learn His way.  We may not have a Jerusalem to rebuild, but there are the cities in which we live.  The walls of faith, discipline and self-control are in disarray; they are walls we can rebuild.  Firm foundations of ethical behavior, the mortar of understanding of right and wrong, and the simple stones of common courtesy can be built first in our own families – and then in the schools and playgrounds and workforces.  As Ned’s story shows, we cannot know the extent of our own influence until we try.

Sources:

“The Holy Bible”

“Halley’s Bible Handbook”, by Henry H. Halley

“Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria”, by Morris Jastrow

“Bearing of Archaeology on Old Testament”, by George L. Robinson