I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. I had a bitter sweet one. I was watching a magnificent fireworks display and was overcome by the pride I had for my country and the sorrow I had for its likely demise. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in miracles as beautiful as fireworks in the night sky, but, like fireworks, there is an explosion that causes the beauty to shine forth.
It is somewhat like our lives. It seems that the beauty of our faith is most evident when our faith is tried. I feel as if this country is being pushed to its breaking point and I am not sure of the outcome. Do we need an explosion to understand just how beautiful we are or are we in a season of misfire?
I am sure we can all remember the fateful day of 9/11. The world stood still as the greatest country in the world was literally brought to its knees, as even the most casual of believers shed tears of anger and sorrow as we collectively looked to the sky and asked our Lord for comfort and grace. It took that kind of tragedy to to bring out the best in us. As I recall, crime in those few days following the attack was almost nil. Parents took their children home early from school that day (I included) to reveal the most breathtaking event in our country's history.
Churches were flooded, families united, we, as a country turned to God on a massive scale. Again, as I looked up in the sky at the breathtaking fireworks display, it seems my faith was challenged. Where are we? Who are we? Will we make it through these dark times when the only thing that can see us through is the bright shining light of our Lord"s glory!? I heard Dinesh D'Souza make a statement that shook me. He brought back to my memory the last line of our national anthem. He brought attention to the fact that the greatest country on the face of the earth has, as its anthem, a verse that ends with a question! Wow. what a revelation!
"Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, over the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
Well, does it? We have been trusted with an awesome responsibility and it is left for us to defend it... even against our own selves. The word is clear; our faith will be tried, by fire, if need be. We are works of fire- we are fireworks. If it takes me coming to the breaking point to be free, then light the fuse and watch me soar and all of the splendor of the faith that I adhere to, will light the night sky and all the darkness that surrounds will see the beauty of my faith! I am committed to the ways of my Lord and savior Yeshua, Jesus the Christ! We must continue to ask ourselves that question. Does Old Glory still wave over a land that is free and a home to those whom are brave? Let Old Glory shine in your smile and in your faith, let the New Glory of the Lord's countenance shine upon your face!
During the display, one of the fireworks actually exploded on the ground. If you were watching from a distance, you did not see it go off. All we saw was emptiness in the sky and we were left to wonder if that was the end of the show... no finale... no breathtaking splendor... no nothing. Are we headed for a misfire? I pray not. I must continue to believe that we will see the best days of our country ahead. And if that means we are pushed to the breaking point, then let it come and let it be swift for all the world to see the display of absolute beauty of a country that is still the land of the free and the home of the brave!
I love you all and I hope you enjoy the one thing that we must hold dearly to through every test and trial of our faith, the living Word of our Lord!
