Our Future—No Exemptions

By Pastor Walter C. Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

July, 2015

We all have the honor and privilege of being citizens in one of the freest and most liberal countries that has ever existed in known history. And we didn't have to do much if anything to accomplish this. Our forefathers, who founded and established this great nation did it all for us, and through the years and many wars we just had to maintain it. Just keep the dream alive. We live, love, work and play here every day and many of us take for granted that this is normal and could never possibly end because of our past God blessed history. Although there are far to many of us that don't give God the credit for this nations prosperity. This assumption that this will never end is a major error in judgment.

We have many enemies in this world and some are here now, and actively attacking or planning to attack our Homeland(Promised Land). All of them with uninformed reasoning, misguided revenge, or just plain envy. If they can't have it why should anyone. This is what is propagandized to their people to avoid telling them the truth. This truth being that we are what we are here today in this country because we have received God's blessing through his grace and our belief and faith. If our enemy's people knew and understood this truth their opposition would dissolve. Do we think complete victory over our enemies is possible without God? I think not. What is the best defense against any violent threat such as, for example, the terrorist Islamic group Isis? The answer is a united Christian front that is strong in trust and faith and rooted in the belief that God will lead us to victory if we are obedient, ask him, and model the example of his son Jesus Christ. Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That was his life here on earth and his model and example for us to emulate. We all remember the old testament stories of the times God saved Israel from destruction when they turned back to him and repented from whatever evil ways they were doing at the time. It still works the same way today. God has not changed in that respect. He gives us unconditional love and forgiveness if we ask.

Philippians 2:5-11

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ lived during one of the most violent repressive times in the history of Israel, yet he did not promote any retaliatory physical violence against Israel's aggressors. He brought God's grace and truth and offered his life in exchange for salvation, redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness, repentance, unconditional love and eternal life to all mankind. Complete freedom vs bondage to sin and eternal death and separation from God. He modeled unconditional love and forgiveness.

Luke 11:17

17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

This country certainly will not stand or endure in its present form and current direction for long. It can't survive, and when it dies this present lifestyle we all enjoy will die with it. We have division in many ways and in all parts of this country, including and most importantly, the church. The church is supposed to represent the body of Jesus Christ. We need unity of thought, purpose and action and this unity comes through complete surrendering of self and country to Triune God and living according to the precepts and principles in his word(Bible). Shouldn't we do all that we can to help answer the unanswered prayer of Jesus Christ to his father in John 17:20-26?

I sometimes wear a tee shirt that says freedom is not free. I am a veteran and I understand the cost of worldly freedom. Not that you have to be a veteran to understand this high cost, however it seems to me to bring it much sooner in life and with a much greater appreciation for this lifestyle that many of us take for granted. This tee shirt refers to the natural freedoms that our U.S. Constitution guarantees. It is not free as you can see by the many wars fought over the years, and the many dead and wounded men and women, military and civilian, that have paid the ultimate price for this natural freedom. I realize there are many people that believe some if not all of these wars were unnecessary. Whether that is true or not is certainly up for debate, although nothing will change the past. We can't live in the past, we can only learn from it, we hope. The price we pay in lives and relationships because of war may not ever change or possibly it will if we repent, ask God for forgiveness, and include Him in all areas of our lives, especially areas of governance where the health and welfare of this country and the people in it are concerned.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

Although this natural freedom we enjoy is costly, the complete supernatural freedom we receive in relationship with Triune God requires nothing of us except to completely surrender our life to Jesus Christ and model His example (walk in his footsteps).So many of us think that becoming a Christian means giving up freedom, but natural freedom includes fear of many varieties,worry, apprehension, constantly questioning your worth and value and the unknown. Supernatural freedom that comes with an honest relationship with Triune God eliminates all of the problems and questions associated with natural freedom. God is love and there is no fear in love. Jesus paid the price for all of us with His blood on the cross. His death and resurrection guaranteed our forgiveness and salvation. This freedom we enjoy as Christians is total and all people of the world have equal opportunity to receive it. All we need is trust, obedience, hope, belief and faith in Jesus Christ. All Wrapped up in love, forgiveness and repentance.

We must always think about and act for the benefit of future generations. What lifestyle do we want them to have? What system or form of government do we want them to live under? I believe we all want the children of the future to have the same equal or better opportunities that we all had and in some cases still have. Very few of us or possibly none of us will still be in the exact same place forever. Situations and circumstances change and we need to keep maturing and take advantage of opportunities as they come our way. God wants us to continue growing into His purpose and plan for us as stated in Jeremiah 29:11-13. This is not just for ourselves and our families, but also for the continuation of our God blessed promised land.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Is our country operating the way our founding fathers intended based on what was written in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? No, I don't believe so. This country was founded and established based on a close relationship with God, each other and Biblical principles and precepts. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Work hard to support yourself, family, country and be a Christian example to all people.

Matthew 22:37-39

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

This is the way I believe we should all live, but especially if we call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ. Using the model and example Jesus Christ showed us in his word (the Bible).

We need to be attentive fathers and mothers to our children and give them constructive criticism and direction, security, stability and unconditional love. We need to be present in their lives and model a good Christian example.

Proverbs 22:6

6 Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Philippians 2:3-4

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Marriage and strong family is Gods will and His creation. It has always been the foundation of a strong healthy society, beginning with Adam and Eve. One of the first signs of a nation losing it's moral compass and its place of influence in the world is the deterioration of the family structure or unit, and our common enemy satan knows this and uses it to his advantage if we allow him.

Mark 10: 6-9

6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

This country can't sustain a strong Christ-centered free democracy while displaying a self-centered mentality or attitude of entitlement and enabling. All of these have to do with self. To achieve the highest level of success possible we need to allow God to be our enabler in doing what he instructs and we cannot accomplish ourselves.

What has happened to being accountable and responsible for ourselves and ours? What has happened to individual initiative, a desire to achieve and a strong work ethic? Also respect for and abiding by the law of the land? Where is the pride in this great nation and showing respect and gratitude for it and the opportunities it provides? Why do so many people only look for ways to abuse and take advantage of this system wherever they can instead of supporting it. Don't we remember what John F. Kennedy said quote, “ Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Most importantly, what has happened to our reliance on our creator God? I know we are all adults here, and being an adult means being responsible and accountable, working and contributing for the ultimate benefit of everyone. When we all unselfishly contribute we all benefit.

Jeremiah 29:11&12

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

I Corinthians 13:11-12

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Why in our country, so rich in freedoms and opportunities, is there so much violence, death, addiction, hopelessness and despair in our homes and on our streets? What we are doing, instead of addressing the root causes, is showing the world that even in this great free U.S.A. we don't have all the answers and in many ways aren't willing to look for those answers. We are a poor example of a Christian country where excellence is one of our primary goals. We can't rely on past successes forever because these days will be our past tomorrow. I believe that over the many years since this country was founded and established we have slowly and steadily pulled away from reliance on relationship with Triune God. We thought that we could be self-reliant, that we could do better without Triune God. Hasn't worked out very well, has it? Remember the Tower of Babel; Genesis 11:1-9.

I want to emphatically state that none of us are exempt from the future path our country takes. We have truly been blessed far beyond many of the world's people, and most of us didn't do a thing to earn it. We just happened to be born here or maybe we immigrated. Even the people in our prisons are treated better than the majority of the citizens in many other countries. Will it or can it last?

We have had, for quite some time, a small but significant homeless and transient population in the U.S.A. This is bad enough in itself, but what is worse is that an average of 25% are veterans. It has also been stated that approximately 1in 4or5 children go to bed hungry every night. They also state that the most nutritious meal many children receive every day is the lunch program provided at low or no cost to low income families. These same children have limited medical and dental care. What fault do these children have? In prison inmates are supplied with regular meals, housing, clothes, medical and dental care and other benefits. By law. And our prisons are overcrowded. Who pays for all of this? Taxpayers. What is wrong or right about this.

So, what is your plan out in this world, if you even have one? Will you continue doing what you have done in the past, or will you find God's purpose and plan for your life? Christians call this repentance. We ask Jesus Christ to come into our life professing our belief in Him, receiving His forgiveness and changing the direction of your life. Through strong trust, obedience, belief, hope and extreme faith we can all have an abundant life.

John 10:7-11

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Only with God leading can we and this country survive and maintain a strong leadership position and be an example to the world of a strong Christ-centered nation. Jesus Christ modeled His example for the entire world to follow. We are to emulate His example and never cease praying.

Matthew 11:12

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

I Corinthians 13:13

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love & Peace, amen.