But I have this against you, that you have abandoned
the love you had at first.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
repent, and do the works you did at first.
If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand
from its place, unless you repent.
Revelation 2:4-5
America's first love . . . .
Columbus' journal: He believed his voyages were ushering in a millennial age . . . and initiating a messianic period. The journal from his first voyage shows that the primary purpose of his explorations was to take the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the people in this unknown land. He referenced Isaiah 59:19 "so they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west" concerning the lands west of Europe that had not yet been discovered. The great explorer discovered the New World "by accident," but yet not by accident. God had His hand upon the wheel of the ship and brought it here. (Peter Marshall)
George Washington set the tone for the nation's governmental authority when he said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
Abraham Lincoln: "God is my witness that it is my constant anxiety and prayer that both myself and this nation should be on the Lord's side."
In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson said: "The Bible . . . is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture."
General George Washington wrote in the general orders to his men on July 2, 1776: "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.
Abraham Lincoln consecrating the Gettysburg battlefield: "We here highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Benjamin Franklin: "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of the truth - that God governs in the affairs of Men. And, without His aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
Henry Wilson: "Remember ever, and always, that your country was founded, not by the 'most superficial, the lightest, the most irreflective of all European races,' but by the stern old Puritans who made the deck of the Mayflower an altar of the living God, and whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God."
President Calvin Coolidge: "The foundation of our society and our government rests so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country." In other words, when America turns from its position of being under God, we can no longer expect His blessings on this nation to continue.
President Reagan's 1981 inaugural address: "Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."
In 1947, forward-looking sociologist Dr. Carle Zimmerman wrote a text call Family and Civilization. He identified eleven "symptoms of final decay" observable in the fall of both the Greek and Roman civilizations:
1. No-fault divorce
2. "Birth Dearth" - increased disrespect for parenthood and parents
3. Meaningless marriage rites/ceremonies
4. Defamation of past heroes
5. Acceptance of alternative marriage forms
6. Widespread attitudes of feminism, narcissism, hedonism
7. Propagation of anti-family sentiment
8. Acceptance of most forms of adultery
9. Rebellious children
10. Increased juvenile delinquency
11. Common acceptance of all forms of sexual perversion
How many on this list would you consider symptomatic of today's condition in the U.S.?
God blessed this country for a reason: our nation was founded on submission to Him. But now as the reasons for His blessings upon America are eroding, we can expect the blessings themselves to fade as well. America is now infected with the deadly disease of moral decay. Scripture often warns us that even a long-suffering God will not forever strive with men. A limb that cuts itself off from the trunk will not continue to live. Today our precious heritage of freedom is being challenged internally by the erosion of our culture.
America's historic support of Israel is based not so much on efforts by Jewish lobbyists in Washington or the presence of Jewish groups in our society, but on the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation. President Truman's determination to recognize Israel as a modern state was fueled by his lifelong belief that in the book of Deuteronomy, God had given the land of Israel to the Jewish people for all time. The historic love that Christians have for the land and people of Israel is based upon their shared religious heritage and scriptures. God has promised to bless those who bless Israel (Genesis 12:1-3). He has amply fulfilled that promise. America has been abundantly blessed as a nation because we have blessed the Jews.
Today, we see a U.S. Congresswoman coming out against Israel in a most hateful way and gaining public support.
Today, we have a growing group of citizens who support a socialist form of government.
Today, we have legalized the killing of millions of innocents. And not only legalized, but celebrated.
Today, we condone homosexuality and gay marriage.
Today, cheating on your spouse is commonplace and shameless.
Today, groups of women hate men and multitudes of men have abused women.
Today, we live for ourselves in indulgence and gluttony.
Today, all forms of prayer and God have been removed from our public schools.
David Jeremiah reminds us that our trust has never been in governments, civilizations, or cultures. These institutions last but a moment, crumbling into dust to be swept away by the winds of history. They are helpful while they are here, but they have never been worthy of our trust. We have always put our trust in the One who stands above institutions, above history, and even above time itself - the One by whose power and permission these things exist, and who knows their times and the ends of their days. Only He is worthy of our ultimate allegiance.
Come, let us repent and return to our first love
