Christian Living

BETWEEN AMERICA'S ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
02/15/23
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PROLOGUE

Unless you have been hidden under that proverbial rock, you are probably aware of the struggles of our great Republic in today’s progressive world. We are faced with fighting for good versus evil, and for our providential Constitutional freedom, as opposed to the power of socialistic control.

So, have you read your newspaper, tuned in the television news, listened to talk radio, surfed the internet, talked to your next-door neighbor, or even listened in the modern church service lately? If so, is America now between a rock and a hard place?

Regardless of the regressive socialistic thinking of today’s culture, Christianity, the Bible and America’s founding documents go hand-in-hand. One need only see what our founding fathers wrote about Scripture to see how that is so. (II Timothy 3:16) 

Here are just a few supportive personal reflections of yesterday and today.

“It’s impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." (George Washington)

“It is my constant anxiety and prayer both myself and this nation be on the Lord's side.”  (Abraham Lincoln)

“The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs of Men. Without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no longer than the builder of Babel.” (Benjamin Franklin)

“The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of man. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation   America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture." (President Woodrow Wilson)

“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." (President Ronald Reagan)

Yes, America was, is, and will always be under God. It was President Calvin Coolidge, who said, “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.”

So, thank, you, President Eisenhower, for adding the phrase 'Under God´ to the Pledge of Allegiance.

And if additional proof is necessary, one need only read America’s founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Mayflower Compact.

Please allow me to close out this rather lengthy preamble by quoting Herman A. Hoyt; “In these days of crisis our trust should not rest in a nation that may shortly disappear, but in Him who works all things after the council of His own will." 

So, I trust you will enjoy this fiction parable, an earthly story having a heavenly meaning. I have titled it, “Between America’s Rock and a Hard Place.”

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re Mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.   When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place,  it won’t be a dead end — Because I am God, “(Paraphrased from Isaiah Chapter 43)

It’s been a grueling week for me at the Bible College. Is it about time for this tired, old Bible professor to pull the pin?

Well, anyway, my prayer is answered, I made it through the week. I plan to do absolutely nothing but rest. Pulling in the garage, my intention was simply to do nothing. I’ll simply just rest a spell, in my man cave before supper.

That’s when it happened, another of my weird dreams or visions. Having been burnt out with life and skeptical serving as the Chief Professor of Early Christian history, over many decades, I had become immune to these passing dreams until now.  This one I just couldn’t shake from memory.

It was an event like no other vision or dream before. I was standing in the midst of a big, isolated field in the middle of nowhere, having no boundaries or landmarks to see. The entire landscape was covered by rocks, too many to count. A warm wind was sweeping across the rocky plain. I laid my backpack on the ground by the rocks to catch my breath. 

 “How did I get here, and what’s the purpose of it all?” I wondered. Nonetheless, what I heard made me forget my weariness.

As if by some divine action, the entire scene came alive. A youth dressed as a medieval chamberlain popped out from under a big rock. As he started singing America’s National Anthem, several other young ones appeared around him and joined in the song. 

By the end of the song, more young, similarly-dressed youths, too many to count, had appeared from under the rocks. Then with hands over hearts, they all joined in reciting America’s Pledge of Allegiance.

Out from under the biggest rock in the center of the field came the leader. He too was dressed as some sort of castle dignitary, and held a big Bible in one hand and America’s Constitution in the other. Drawing attention from the entire congregation, he began to speak.

His speech was very clear. It was all about the spiritual combination of Christianity (Acts 2:41-47) and Patriotism. (Romans 13:1-7). He then continued with a detailed explanation and predictions for the two.

“It’s not a denomination, nor a particular religious faction, but the church, God’s church. The church of the New Testament, along with America’s Constitutional authority, was about to be reborn, to be revived, throughout all the land. No one, no entity, no government, nor politics would stand in the way of divine providence.  For it would be a revival of both Christianity and Patriotism as we have never seen before!” he exclaimed. 

That got me to thinking. “Was it true, would it be true? And just how could this medieval character, from centuries gone by, have an idea such as this, especially in America’s regressive, socialistic culture?” I wondered.

He must have overheard my wonderings, for he quickly opened his Bible and began reading.

“He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:21-22)

"Wow, I have to meet this medieval character!" I thought. So, I quickly started to walk towards him. It was no use, however. As I got close to him, he suddenly ran back under the big rock.

It wouldn’t have mattered, anyway, since my dream had suddenly closed off. I was back home, down in my man cave sitting in my old worn-out duct-taped rocker.

However, over on the table was another unsolved mystery. It was my Mom’s old study Bible, open to the highlighted conclusion of the same biblical passage the man had read to me.  When Mom had left for Glory land, her old Bible too had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

“I thank and praise You, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel 2:23)

What did I do then? You guessed it. While on my knees, I grabbed my phone and made   a quick phone call. "Pastor, pastor, please pick up. We need to talk. I’m ready to tune in to your faith-based patriotic sermon idea. Amen!"

EPILOGUE

So, there you have it. Did I ever go back and finish the dream? No. I knew if I did, it wouldn’t be the same. What about playing its completion within my mind? I have no idea but somehow maybe in receiving a revelation or giving one out, I would find release. The dream wasn’t just for others, it was also personal to me.

Wasn’t it President Franklin Roosevelt who said “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? So, what must we fear?

According to Present Herbert Hoover, “Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by complaisance with evil."

According to Dr. David Jeremiah, in his best seller, The Book of Signs” today our heritage of freedom is being challenged internally by the erosion of our culture. As long -held freedoms come under fire, some Americans, especially those with wealth, are deciding that the United States is no longer the best place to live. Sadly, if our culture continues to jettison the principles that made our nation great, we can hardly expect the blessings of Almighty God to continue. So, we must pray, and pray hard for our great Republic of America. Amen!

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