A MIRACLE NATION!


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

"This week marks our nation's highest celebration. It is remembrance of our founding heritage. Traditionally we've set aside July 4th, to remember the beginning of the greatest nation on the face of the earth!"

I'm Dennis Finnan, speaker on the World, the Word & You! And in a moment we'll give rightful time to examine this wonderful event...

...Many folks aren't aware, but in the year 1903, secular forces in the nation of America, set in motion a plan so devious and so evil, that to this day its program has had lasting and ruinous effect. It was in that year, the Carnegie Foundation's Board of Trustees began a plan and program to change the perception of American history. Instead of presenting our youth with national heroes such as George Washington or Benjamin Franklin and others as men of integrity and virtue, they were purposely presented as individuals whose only goal was to use their power and position for personal selfish gain. By the year 1950 textbooks across the nation had been revised to include moral indiscretions, and failures of many of our founding fathers and former heroes of the nation. Records show that more than $ 30 million dollars a year was spent by the Carnegie Foundation, along with the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations to rewrite American history. As wild as that sounds all this can be documented.

Now since that date, we can all say, we've heard or seen the docu-dramas of television that have done their nefarious work. Our young generation sown with the seeds of doubt as to the credibility of our discovering and founding fathers., now has no anchor in patriotism or the principles of our past. To them, Christopher Columbus is considered a scoundrel, Washington a hypocrite and womanizer, and Patrick Henry a lazy extremist of dubious credentials. Its' no wonder patriotism is dead, and young people today have little to no idea that America's greatness is the direct result of the omnipotent hand of the Creator God of all life.

Today we live in what might be considered the age of secular enlightenment. Although I am more than a half century old, I have witnessed in my lifetime the denigration and perversion of American history presented to our nation's youth. I am thankful that when I went to school in the forties and fifties, the school systems I attended had not purchased or accepted the up coming and new textbooks that have essentially rewritten history. My history textbooks were old and printed in the 20's and 30's. In them were no derogatory accounts of our national heroes. And, in place of that were thrilling accounts of God-fearing men whose faith, courage and patriotism brought us, as we still say to this day to be -"One nation under God." Hence, I grew up profoundly patriotic, with a deep reverence and love for this nation called the United States of America. My eyes still water when I hear the Star Spangled Banner, American the Beautiful and other patriotic hymns. Although I never served in our armed forces, I personally volunteered to enter on two separate occasions, but was rejected for medical reasons. I love America and I know why. For it is far above any other nation on the face of the earth - A MIRACLE NATION!

Yes, that's right a miracle. Now let's define that word. What is a miracle? Is it finding a quarter when we have no change and need desperately to make a phone call in a public telephone? No, I'd call that a wonder. A miracle by its very definition is something that happens that is impossible by human standards and principles. It is by this account I believe America's foundation is nothing short of miracle.

Think for a moment, especially all those of you who regularly have listened through the years to my messages. It was a miracle that Columbus discovered this part of the world. We know from his own written accounts, that his Christian faith in Jesus Christ led him by divine providence to find these shores and establish it for God. Not only was Columbus' discovery a miracle, but think of our Pilgrim fathers. The leading of God brought the Pilgrims to this land, and guided and directed them to the northern Plymouth foundation. The winds of God's guidance blew them off the course of a Virginia landing and brought them providentially to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Had they arrived a few years earlier, they would all have been killed by one of the most fierce tribes that lived right there. However a massive plague wiped out the Patuxet tribe, freeing the area from hazard and hostility. Moreover, it was a miracle they also survived the trip and first winter. In fact, William Bradford of the Plymouth Foundation wrote in his memoirs this account of miracle intervention of God in their continued existence,

"About the 16th of March 1621, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English… he spoke of another Indian named Squanto who would come and help them. Squanto came and continued with them, being their interpreter. He was a special instrument sent from God for their good beyond their expectation."

God preserved the Pilgrims who by themselves would have perished from the land without the help and aid of these friendly Indians. They took it upon themselves to help the Pilgrims survive and continue in their new-world home. Yet for the next 156 years the colonies continuance historically shows God's intervention and providential care. Continuing on, history reveals it was an even greater miracle that these godly colonists considered rebelling against the motherland. In light of their strict faith in God and the call of every Christian to honor those in authority and not rebel, these colonists not only rebelled but won the impossible Revolutionary War against all overwhelming odds. Historical account after account tells how God intervened on the side of the Continental armies.

George Washington himself tells of the hand of God at one time rescuing them. Washington at Brooklyn Heights was once surrounded by General Howe and the British forces. The only thing left to do was surrender. However during the night it appears God gave a plan in the mind of Washington. He collected every floating vessel he could find and set about to escape by water since the land was covered by British soldiers waiting to capture them. However, from human reasoning this plan was crazy! Imagine 8000 troops trying to get away by small boats in the clear moonlight without being seen or heard? As Washington's plan was readied, the troops and other commanders questioned this foolhardy escape. However Washington insisted God would lead them. He prayed asking for divine intervention. As they were getting ready to man the boats, suddenly on this clear moonlit night an eery fog arose, a thick fog that shielded the British eyes from seeing any escape by water. By morning the fog lifted and Washington and his 8000 troops with their provisions, cannons and even horses were gone! Indeed it was a miracle of God that saved the Continental Army. Had they been captured as was inevitable under normal circumstances, the war would have been over and America to this day might have still been a British colony. However, the miracles go on!

Our nation is a miracle nation when one reads of the Confederacy period and the Civil War . God delivered those who stood for that which was right. Abraham Lincoln, and the northern armies won the war against the south not because of their strength, but because it was God's will that slavery be abolished. America's constitution said, "all men are created equal" - equal under God and equal before the law. As such this must prevail. And friend, it's still a miracle that this nation exists today as a strong and free people, in spite of all attempts to subjugate it to the will of men! Yes this July 4th, we all need to pause from the busyness of life and give thanks to God for giving us a nation of freedom and good will.

But say friend have you also thought of this - if God's hand of providence actually brought about the discovery, founding and continuance of this nation, we need to ask ourselves why did God do it? Well the answer is obvious. God chose in the sovereignty of world affairs to raise up a nation that would be used by Him in the work of redeeming the souls of people from every kindred, tongue and nation of the world. By establishing a nation that guaranteed religious freedom, that promoted God's higher or common law in the land, that honored the Judeo-Christian principles of life and living - God was able to energize his Church to freely carry out its command to "go and preach the Gospel to every creature." You see, when Jesus left this earth with the promise of coming again, he said,

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) ….., "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

America more than any other nation and people is responsible for the greatest missionary evangelistic outreach since the church began. Millions of Christians even to this day send thousands of missionaries and spend billions of dollars that God's saving Word reaches the farthest corners of our globe. Indeed America's greatness still lies in its willingness to be God's instrument of grace to a lost and needy world. Now although America has fallen far from its heritage and beginning, we can still thank God this week for His providential keeping and care. Rather than vilifying the American heroes of the past by raising up so-called historical facts of their immoral and questionable living, we need to reject this new information which by the way friend, is very questionable. The Carnegie Foundation and other secularist groups goal has been to dethrone God in American law and life so that the godless new age thinkers can bring a better world. Better? …

Already by their changes we have the fruit of their world without God on the throne. Millions of lives have been lost to the wicked sin of abortion on demand. More than 30 millions American lives have been killed by rejecting God's time honored Word that says, "Thou shalt not murder." Since we've thrown out God's moral laws, and banned the Ten Commandments from all social institutions of learning and governing - we have produced a generation of youth that are dying by the thousands to AIDS, and other STD's. The war for America's soul thus far has swung to the left and the death and destruction it has promoted is evident. With the passing of America's heroes, our young people have no standard or morality, no patriotism, or vision of its greatness in the lives of our past countrymen.

The result has been the steep rise in crime, and abuse. Rape, incest, promiscuity, suicide, dishonesty, and theft - rule our young people as they see no future and take what they can of the present. All this my friend is the result of rejecting God and His Word for our nation and its life and living. Yes, our social landscape is littered with their wreckage by years of excluding God from public life. The silence of God's people and their churches all contribute to our national decline.

Therefore I declare unto you isn't it time, especially this week of patriotic remembrance that we do something about it? If the majority of our citizens, who still claim to have deep religious and moral yearnings will band together and rise up against the Rape of American History, and the godless secularization of our Christian heritage - we can change this nation overnight. Back in 1976 the Christian watchword was the Old Testament Word of God which stated,

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Although that passage specifically speaks to the elect nation of Israel in the past, the principles behind it apply to every nation of God's people founded to honor God and His Word. America friend, still qualifies! Therefore, the first thing we Christian can and must do is (1) PRAY AND BE SPIRITUALLY ACTIVE - like the founding Fathers who sought God to lead them through difficult times and ways -- we must pray for a spiritual revival in the land. We must pray for God to raise up God-fearing men and women who will run for political office. From school boards to the nation's presidency - we must elect those who best qualify to uphold God and His Word for American life.

Secondly, we must be (2) PARTICIPATE and be politically active. Every Christian in the nation needs to realize that God has given us a land where the people are called to rule by the democratic processes. As such, the perfect candidate may not be given us as a choice. Christians must not stay away from the voting booths. Sometimes the only choice we have is the "lesser of the two evils." We must still vote for the better candidate who will be closer to God's standards. This means voter registration, election campaigning, informing the people of voting records and moral issues must be the work of Christians. Although the secular forces cry foul, we Christians have every right to build and fortify a nation that returns to the Christian heritage of our founding fathers and people. Friend the future of America is up for grabs, and unless we take back what God has given to our forefathers, we will have no future. The Bible says,

Psalms 9:17 (NIV) "The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God."

That is God's unalterable law and promise. All nations that forget God will return to the grave. Individual Christians can make a difference even when our political regime is actively hostile to the faith of our forefathers. And as Edmund Burke the great British orator of the 18th century said: "All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

It is my prayer this holiday week that you my friend, your family and churches rise up and be counted. Let us not remain silent, let us prayerfully seek God's face, let us reexamine our own moral and spiritual walk in this world, and may we become involved for Christ. Remembering first of all that our job is not to save America, nor to preserve our freedoms important as they are - our first and foremost responsibility is to stand for Christ, witnessing His grace and power, fortifying God's Word in our homes and families, and training our children in the ways of God and His Word. Only those who have experienced this life changing power and are living it triumphantly, can bring that power to our fallen society that now languishes in hopelessness. Our founding fathers did their part. They obeyed and followed God, they gave their lives to Jesus Christ, they lived their lives for His glory and grace, they set up a government with God at the helm. Now it is up to us to carry the same torch and do everything we can to keep it.

John Adams our second president said, " we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion… our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. "Thousands of quotes such as this permeate our founding fathers words spoken to this nation. Why? Because our nation by Christian consensus, was indeed founded and operated under the laws of God, and the principles of morality and justice God's Word details. Oh how we need a revival in the land, a desperate turning back of Christians from their apathy and compromises. But of course it all begins in you and me. Will you make a new and fresh commitment to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you, if necessary, put your trust in His Person and work today? Only God ,I believe, can save us now as we begin to prepare to enter the 21st century. If we enter it without God at the helm, our nation is doomed. But if we turn the helm back to His guidance, we can have a bright future and hope. May God add His blessings this patriotic weekend, to these words for Jesus sake. Amen.

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 18 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/