If Indeed (Exodus 19:1-6)

While driving through the countryside of south Georgia, I spotted a church's marquee that read, "America: the Land of the Free Because of the Brave." What a fitting statement for our nation as we celebrate our independence, and for the Christian church as well. At this moment in history, our nation is free, but not by accident. Many men and women have have paid the ultimate sacrifice, beginning with the catalyst for American independence and freedom, the Revolutionary War. If not for brave men like our founding fathers who regarded the Bible as indispensable to a regime of self government and liberty under law, perhaps our nation would have never been free. Today, I would like to propose that we are living in the most crucial time, in regards to the stability of our freedom, since the founding of our nation. You know the imagery of the frog in water that is slowly increasing in heat. Unaware at first, that the water temperature is increasing, it becomes too late as the water reaches boiling point. Our nation is in a pot of water called socialism. We need to wake up and do something before we boil! We must reclaim our nation's heritage, rescue our nation, and continue to build up the church of Jesus Christ.

I. Reclaiming our Heritage

Our nation's heritage is one put forth by the framers of the U. S. Constitution and the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The founding generation revered the Bible for insights in human nature, civic virtue, social order, and political authority. They believed that a self-governing people had to be a virtuous people who were controlled from within by an internal moral compass. Therefore, many founders regarded the Bible as indispensable to a regime of republican self-government and liberty under law (Dreisbach, D. L., 2017). Long before the founders, God's people experienced a heritage from the creator of the Universe. Time after time, miracle after miracle, God brought his people to himself. Verse four of Exodus 19 explains, "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself." A unique characteristic about eagles' wings will bring understanding of how important verse four is regarding how God bears us up in difficult times. An eagle is the only bird that actually loves a storm. An eagle will fly directly into a storm and use the fierce winds to lift it even higher. Its wings are designed to lock in a fixed position, causing it to soar very high without faltering. In other words, there is no "storm" that can keep us from God.

Our nation is headed directly into a storm that wants to destroy our Christian heritage. The storm of socialism is on a crash course headed directly into our foundational ideology, capitalism. Capitalism has many enemies, but the main ones are derived from academia, news media, entertainment, and political bureaucracy. The socialist agenda consists of four main elements. First, socialism wants to control people from the crib to the coffin. Citizens of a socialist nation have few rights, and the few they have are regulated by the government. Secondly, socialism includes single payer health care, or medicare for all as it is sometimes called. Sounds lovely for the young and healthy, but for the aged and sick, it is a death sentence. There is a finite healthcare budget, and the government decides who is worthy to receive treatment. Third, in a socialist economy, everyone works for the government at a high minimum wage. This shoots capitalism right in the foot. Who could own a business that pays $15 an hour minimum wage for unskilled workers? Finally, socialism wants to get rid of all borders. No wall, no ICE, no border patrol - just let every person in. This premise is totally antithetical to the way America was founded. Margret Thatcher put it succinctly, "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Socialism always fails. Take a look at some of the nations that have tried it. Venezuela faces scarcity of essentials, unemployment, and inflation. Just 40 years ago, Zimbabwe was the most productive and economically stable country in Africa. Today, Zimbabwe is failing under the dictator's Marxist policies. Further evidence is in the numbers of people fleeing socialism. Why would hundreds of people from Cuba risk their lives in homemade boats and rafts to leave their country? It's certainly not because their life of socialism is wonderful. America is sliding toward socialism today, so what would it take to bring her back to the freedom of capitalism?

II. Rescue a Nation

Verses 5 and 6 reveals the solution to our rescue from becoming a socialist nation. First, in order to be a godly nation, as we were intended to be, we must listen to God's voice. Remember, at this time, the 10 Commandments had not been given to the people of God. Many people today will think you are mentally ill if you say you've heard from God. Perhaps that is because they do not know his voice. The majority of the time, God speaks to us through his word. Additionally, God's voice can be heard by us when we have a personal relationship with him. Secondly, a godly nation must keep God's covenant. Your covenant with God began at salvation. God's word is filled with promises that will never fail. As God's children obey his voice and keep his covenant, he builds a people to form nations and to form his church.

III. Building a Church

What are the characteristics of the people capable of building a nation? Do they have to be extremely intelligent or talented? Intelligence and creativity are not the cornerstones of nation building. John Adams, founding father and the second American president, believed that the Bible contains the most perfect morality, and without national morality, a government can not be maintained. John Hancock, governor of Massachusetts and signer of the Declaration of Independence, called all to bow to the scepter of Jesus Christ, and the whole world to be filled with his glory. These men were all sensitive to God's will. They believed that God needed to be involved. They knew that if God was involved in the creation of a new nation, then they must follow his will. God carried the founding fathers on eagles' wings. George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River was a good example. General Washington's troops were outnumbered, outclassed, and discouraged. They were trapped on the banks of the Delaware. The river was so icy the their boats would be crushed. The wind and rain was relentless and freezing. Washington was between a rock and a hard place, so what did he do? he called a prayer meeting to ask God for guidance and help. For some reason, the British army decided to wait until morning to attack. Washington decided to cross the river despite the treacherous conditions. Suddenly, the wind and rain died and the river became smooth as glass. Time was short, and dawn was near. They would not escape in the light of day. Miraculously, God stepped in again. A thick fog formed around Washington's troops, hiding them from the British. When the fog lifted, the British commander Howe was surprised. Washington and his men acknowledged God's blessing on the new nation of America.

If God had his hand in the founding of America, then he certainly has had his hand in building and sustaining the church. Verse 6 says that God's people are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to him. What is the function of a priest? A priest is a bridge builder; an intercessor between God and man. Jesus Christ is the high priest. Believers are priests who intercede for each other and for the lost. They assemble together to encourage one another. They are quick to proclaim the excellencies of their God, both at home and to the ends of the earth. We are a called out nation with a message of truth and peace. We can't be selfish and we can't be bound by a building. In Isaiah 49, the Lord says that it is too small a thing to only share the Gospel with those around you. "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Here is a challenge to you- four things that you can do to rescue the nation. First, keep up. Be informed about things that affect the nation. The enemy is at work trying to keep you ignorant about what is going on in the world. Second, increase your influence. Tell others about our nation's concerns along with doing your part in spreading the Gospel. Thirdly, pray as if our nation has stage four cancer. All of us have had the responsibility of praying for someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a scary thing, and we are willing to drop to our knees to pray, especially if the affected is a close friend or family member. Lastly, don't be afraid. The enemy wants to make you think you have no hope and that you are not able to change things for the better. Satan wants you to believe the lie that the government can take care of you better than God. God has your name engraved in his hand, and that's all you need. Amen.

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