Power Point - January 25, 2006

January 25, 2006

 

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. … I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” --Luke 15:11-19

 

Several years ago when I visited the Capitol in Washington D.C., I saw there many reminders of the founding of this great nation in the halls of our highest government buildings. Beautiful portraits hung on the walls such as the baptism of Pocahontas, the pilgrims who stepped off the Mayflower and knelt in prayer to thank God for this dreamland He had given them, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with an open Bible.

 

This nation began as a dream of men and women who knew and loved God. They came seeking freedom from the oppression they experienced when exercising their faith. Foundational truths from God’s Word are imprinted in the Constitution and early government doctrines. This nation was founded, favored, and blessed by God. And our founding fathers believed that the sovereign hand of God was upon this nation.

 

James Madison, architect of the Constitution and fourth president of the U.S., said, “We have staked the future of this nation upon the capacity of each and all of us to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” And Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, once said, “Our Republic rests upon the Rock of Scripture.”

 

Just as the prodigal son came home and found the loving embrace of his father, so I believe it is time for America to come home to God. If we do, I believe we will find the loving embrace of our Father who has favored and blessed us as a nation. We are to be salt and light in our society (see Matthew 5:13-14). Choose which vision for America you want to support: secular or spiritual. Get into the public arena of our culture and come home to family, morality, opportunity, and holiness. But never forget your first priority which is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to our lost world.

 

GET OUT OF THE PEW AND INTO THE WORLD. DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE OF GOD TO OTHERS BY LIVING YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST.