AMERICA, A PORT IN THE STORM

by CHARLES ROBEY
(MOODY AL USA)

PROLOGUE

Do you remember that age-old adage, “Any port in a storm will do”? It is often said, 'a lighthouse never gets rid of a storm – it shines the light for wayward travelers to find their way home.' Will America’s government and its populace wake up and follow suit?

The Scripture is very precise with respect to believers’ proper attitude towards the state, for there’s no authority except from God. Obviously, this does not mean that only certain forms of government are endorsed by God. Almighty God established and upheld the principles of government even though some governments refuse to recognize Him. Please read (Romans 13:1-8) (Titus 3:1) (I Peter 2:13)

The apostle Paul never once railed against the immoral lifestyle of Emperor Nero in any of his Testament epistles. But he did challenge his readers to live holy lives for the glory of God. Spirit-filled believers were, and still are today, the mightiest weapon in the battle for the souls of America. The best advertisement for the life-changing gospel of Christ is a changed life. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

You see, our living Creator God always has been, is, and will continue to be sovereign over the state, and our lives. He uses both good and evil to affect His perfect divine will upon all nations, and all people. (Daniel 2:20-21)

From before the beginning of the world, God knew when America would be established, what its physical borders would look like, and what its ultimate destiny would be. God is in control over it all. Peter preached that the very boundaries of a nation were predetermined by God, including the space they would occupy on the timeline of human history. (Acts 17:26)

President Ronald Reagan believed God had a plan for our nation. He wrote, “I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the earth who had a special love of faith and freedom. And, when Columbus discovered this new world, God must have had his hand on the wheel of the ship."

So is our great Republic of America a port in the storm? Yes and no. Yes, for those of us who believe in America’s faith-based, patriotic foundation. No, to those of today’s ungodly progressive “woke” generation. I have entitled this fictional parable blog “America, A Port in The Storm.”

I was quietly standing all alone on an unknown beachhead, looking out over the rough sea. The unusually big waves were churning ever so violently, as if in tune with the prevailing wind. Was it a hurricane, or simply a rough storm?

The roughening of the water suddenly forced the keeper of a nearby lighthouse to take quick preventative action. He shone the light out over the violent waves through the fog of the storm. By this light I caught a glimpse of an incoming struggling sea vessel.

I couldn’t help but whisper a quick prayer for all the troubled seaman aboard the crippled ship. As I continued to watch out over the water, however, I saw a large lifeboat filled to capacity, along with the ship’s mascot, making its way through the waves toward the shore.

As the rescue boat came closer to land. I could hear singing, mixed with prayer. I even joined in a bit. My praise was not only for the ship’s crew, but also for the dedication of the lighthouse keeper. His bright shining beam directed the rescue boat safely to shore. My thinking instantly brought to mind that old religious tune entitled “The Lighthouse.” Do you remember its lyrics?

How did this adventure end? I don’t rightly know. I awakened from my dream, lying in bed, my pajamas soaked through and through. Yes, now I know how those rescued seaman, along with the little mascot, must have felt. Although my experience was somewhat different than the dream scene, I certainly felt their immediate concern for life.

Why did I find myself in such a dream in the first place? I ask myself that question to this very day, without a definite answer. Well, you be the judge. Have you ever had such an experience? I pray I’ll never again experience it in my sleep, or even in my waking life.

Here is the end of my story, but the beginning of my continued living. Lying mysteriously on my bed table was Mom’s big, worn white family Bible that had been lost for years, and it was turned to the much needed below passage.

(II Chronicles 7:14) says “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.”

In the margin was Mom’s hand-written note which read, “This verse is often used as a call to prayer for repentance and revival. It is a reminder that God is merciful and forgiving to those who seek Him with a humble heart.”

I hope this helps, in America’s time of need, as well as yours. Until my next dream world adventure, don’t give up on our great Republic, America, the land of the free and home of the brave. Please let me know if you have any other questions. May God Bless. Until next time. Amen!

EPILOGUE

So, is our great Republic of America a port in the storm? Thousands are trying to get into America, but very few are wanting to leave America.

Freedom must never be taken for granted. (John 8:32) The principles of freedom will always be a byproduct of Christianity. We have our Creator God’s blessings upon America’s founding documents, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Mayflower Compact, as well as in America's true history stories.

Looking back to history, I can envision Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge; our founding fathers on their knees at the Continental Congress; Lincoln praying in the hour of national crisis; and Woodrow Wilson reading the Bible at night in the White House by a dim light.

In his 1981 inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan stated, “No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.”

We must not ever discount the dictates of God’s Holy Word, which should come first in the lives of all Americans. Its teachings are clear in (II Timothy 3:16), as well as its honor bestowed upon its human writers.

Obviously in history God blessed America over all other nations. Where most other nations have long outlived America, I‘d still be the first to realize America’s culture has always seemed to be moved by the very existence of God. Historically, the principles of faith-based patriotic freedom seem to always unite with Christianity. As Scripture tells us, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

Most importantly, however, America was founded on God’s dictates, in such founding documents as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Mayflower Compact. And because America’s founding fathers submitted to God’s authority, our national freedom was born. (Psalm 33:12) Add to this (Proverbs 14:34).

This dependence on God characterized America’s governmental philosophy down through the ages. Our founding President George Washington summarized our national dependence on God when he said, “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the Affairs of men more than the people of the United States.”

President Calvin Coolidge put it this way, “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” In other words, when America turns from its position of being under God, we can no longer expect His blessings, can we now?