If I had a nickel for every commercial I’ve seen or heard about why I need to buy gold to prepare for some coming economic meltdown, I’d have a lot more money to lose in said meltdown. If I wanted to sell a lot of books, all I’d have to do is call it something like “7 reasons why America is going to hell in the next 7 years” and it would sell faster than the nickels coming in from the meltdown infomercials.
Why? One simple reason: fear sells.
If I can scare you, I can sell you whatever you think might save you.
Afraid of the coming zombie apocalypse? Losing $349 might save you.
Don’t want gold but still want peace? Buying foreign currency offers it (even though it’s a scam).
Not sure about eternity? There’s always a guy with a sign trying to scare the hell out of you.
For whatever reason, we’ve bought into the lie that our country is headed for some black hole where patriotism and repentance won’t work, but today – on America’s 238th birthday – I can see the future clearly because I’m standing on the shoulders of those who have paid for it dearly.
Men and women who have fought bravely in far too many wars. Soldiers who have endured countless nights away from their families so that I could sleep near mine. Leaders who have made hard decisions that would have rendered most of us too paralyzed by fear to act.
Today, our country enjoys freedom fully because generations of patriots have stood for freedom courageously, and if those Americans could tell us one thing, they would say that they didn’t fight to make this country great. They fought because IT IS GREAT.
Patriotism aside, this nation’s future is bright because of people like my mom, who is celebrating her 73rd birthday with Jesus even though I wish she was celebrating with me. Like this country, she was a strong, independent woman who served her family and others tirelessly in order to make us better. She didn’t do it because she had to, or because she hoped her service would help us. She did it because she loved another Server, and He had given her the faith to believe that her service could be a piece of the puzzle that would ultimately complete the picture of redemption in our hearts. I am the man I am today because of how she loved and served me when I least appreciated or deserved it.
Speaking of redemption, what part does the Redeemer play in how I see the future? For so many of the fear peddlers, they see a God full of wrath just waiting on us to give Him an excuse to let us have it. Like the red-faced father who has had his fill of a rebellious son, He glares at us and screams, “Just give me a reason!” If we were to judge the church based on these messengers, we’d be convinced that the carriers of the GOOD NEWS are really hoping for the BAD NEWS instead. Much like the prophet Jonah in the Old Testament, these people are more mad at God for not judging lost souls than they are thankful to God for saving their own.
But when I see the cross, I realize that God has already poured out His wrath, and today I stand on the shoulders of the One on whom he poured it. He is not vengeful anymore, and while all the nay-sayers take pleasure in closing the doors of the ark on the “bad people” who deserve to die,
He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9, NLT)
While preachers with bullhorns hold up really big signs with scary words and yell at us about how bad we are, God takes a different approach to show us how good He is.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4, NLT)
This promise isn’t just for you and me as individuals, but for nations and people groups the world over! Look what God said He would do for entire lands when we stop preaching the bad news and start pointing to the good news:
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT)
Ultimately, if we can’t see a hope and a future for America, it’s because we don’t have a good view. Like a kid missing the parade because all he can see are elbows and butts, our outlook is skewed because our perspective is limited. And while no one would blame that kid for starting to hate parades, the better approach would be to do for that child what generations of soldiers, my mom and Jesus have done for me – lift him up and give him the best seat in the house.
And from where I stand – on the shoulders of so many who have given so much – the future looks amazing.
