It is the winter of 1777. The war for Independence is in its infancy. Victory over the British Empire is far from guaranteed. Even if it does happen, it will not be soon.
Benjamin Rush–a founding father, physician, and devout Christian–returns to Congress and sits next to John Adams, the man who would one day become President of the United States.
Rush lowers his voice and, in a whispered tone, asks Adams if he thinks they will succeed in their struggle against Great Britain. To even ask the question suggests a concern rumbling inside him. One wonders if he had his own doubts and was seeking encouragement.
The heart of the question was simple:
Do you think we will win?
Adams turns to Rush and says:
“Yes–if we fear God and repent of our sins.”
The power and simplicity of this statement should stagger us. Adams could have given a lengthy treatment of why the political philosophy in the American colonies would be superior to England. He could have referenced military strategy or the zeal of the Continental Army to overthrow their tyrannical foe.
But he does none of this. His answer was not political–it was fundamentally spiritual.
Adams understood what Christians in America desperately need to remember today. It is quite easy to look around and criticize how sinful and rebellious our nation has become. To observe this is not a bad thing. Culturally, economically, and politically–we have strayed so far from the Word of God and from the Christian foundations upon which our nation was built that it would be unrecognizable in many ways to the founders. The results have been corruption, injustice, mass illegal immigration, children slaughtered by the millions in the womb, unjust taxation, and an attack on God’s design for the family.
But we would do well to remember that criticism is not enough. Adams’ prescription for success as a country did not look outward, but inward. It was fundamentally a heart issue. If we would prevail as a nation, says Adams, we must fear the Lord and turn away from our sin.
We all want to hand a better nation down to our children, but you cannot fix the country yourself. Trying to do so will only lead to exasperation and frustration. But you can fear God and repent of your sins. You can live in a way pleasing to Him in the time and place God has put you. You can build or contribute to something meaningful–a home, a family, a business, a church–and in doing so you will be a beacon of light shining in a dark place. If you fear God and repent of your sins, you will move from being a mere critic of the problem to a part of the solution. You will have contributed a small but meaningful advancement of the kingdom of God and helped to hand down true freedom to your children.
So the next time you feel discouraged over how far we have fallen as a nation, remember that there is hope in Christ. Remember that your duty is not to fix the entire country.
Your duty is simple: fear God and repent of your sins.
