This message was delivered by Adrian Rogers in June 1986. As you read his words, you might consider prophecy or God speaking to a pastor's heart?
America and the world are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. Only God knows what the next few days, weeks, months or years will bring. It is time to seek God. It is time to ask for a miracle.
With all the unction, function, and emotion of my soul, I believe that we need a miracle for America. Now, does that mean we are to start looking around at what our nation can do to achieve this miracle? No.
Perhaps one day in the distant future, a historian will write the rise and the fall of the American empire. Has there been another nation as blessed as America? Indeed there has. The nation Israel has a glorious heritage very much like America.
In her day, Israel was the wonder of the world. This nation blessed by God had broken through the gnawing and tormenting chains of Egyptian bondage and become a nation so wonderful that all the nations in the world were astounded by what God had done for her. But, what did Israel do? She forgot God. And Almighty God responded in judgment as He brought forth a time of national calamity. Psalm 80 was written during a time of national calamity and has great advice for us today:
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up Thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. (Psalm 80:1-3)
God blessed the nation of Israel. God has blessed the nation of America. There are principles and parallels in our heritages that the discerning eye can see and the ready heart can apply.
Divinely Planted
Psalm 80:8 says, "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." The vine to which the psalmist is referring is the nation Israel. Israel was called God's vine throughout Scripture. God put Israel in the land called Canaan. And in the same way, I believe God divinely planted Christians in the land called America.
Have you ever wondered where the American dream came from? Many would guess that it came from our founding fathers. But, I believe God put that dream into the hearts of those men. Indeed, no other nation has ever had such a Christian beginning as the United States of America.
Our thirteen original colonies were founded because of the Christian faith. The pilgrims who came to our shores in 1620 were seeking the religious freedom to preach the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Mayflower Compact, which they wrote after much prayer, began with these words: "In the name of God, Amen." Why did they write this compact? The answer is in the second paragraph: "Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country." 1
Divinely Prospered
Psalm 80:10-11 says, "The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river."
The prophets of Israel taught honest work, the right of ownership, and the responsibilities of personal property. That vine brought forth fruit. And as America has adhered to the principles of God's Word, America prospered as a nation, as well. We have poverty, but as compared with most of the world, the poor in America are rich. God has blessed America from sea to shining sea, but how long will that continue?
America is in trouble and what America needs is an alliance with the Almighty, a peace conference with the Prince of Peace, a league with the Lord.
Next month we will take a closer look at our grave national danger, our great national despair and finally our gracious national deliverance.
I wonder how many people reading this today do not know if they died right now that they would go to heaven. I don't know what is going to happen in these perilous times, but I know Who is in control of this world. And I know that the soul that has put his or her faith in Christ ultimately will have the victory.
You need God. Do you want God to save you? If so, visit www.lwf.org
1 http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/2.htm
