This weekend we celebrate the birthday of our country. We are fortunate to live in a country that has been truly blessed by God. But is it really, as we say in the pledge, a “nation under God”? When you watch the behavior of those who are supposed to be running this country, those making the news with vicious attacks going both directions,  do you really believe that the United States is a nation under God? Are we behaving like godly people?

Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, said: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God…”

Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President: “America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.”

In the Psalms we read “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

This country has had many of our brave young men and women serve in many wars. Countless prayers were offered for those who served to protect our freedoms and rid the world of evil aggressors. But does that make us a “Nation under God?”

The United States of America may not be a nation under God, but you and I are part of a nation that does look to the Lord. We are part of God’s chosen people, the people known as ISRAEL. I’m not talking about that state in the Middle East that is the location of constant terrorism and turmoil, but the true ISRAEL described in Scripture. Through faith in Christ, we are part of those God calls “My People.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Those words were spoken at the dedication of the Temple. Solomon had built this Temple for God, and in Chapter 6 prayed that God would be pleased and listen to the worship and requests offered there. It was in response to Solomon’s prayer that God spoke these words. Something that should not be overlooked is that God spoke these words to those who were already HIS people. He was the one who preserved them, brought them to this Promised Land, raised up judges and prophets and now kings to rule them. They were His people. These words applied to those who already had a relationship with Him: my people, who are called by my name.

While I am happy to be a citizen of the USA, that is not the most important thing to me. Nor is it being a Texan, which is even better. Those things have to do only with life here on earth, and they pale in comparison to knowing that I am part of God’s people, called by His name. That has to do with eternity.

 Philippians 3:20–21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

 And my being part of His people, His nation, was all His doing.  He paid the price to buy me back from sin and death at His first coming. And He is coming again to take me to be with Him.

God did this for me. He did it for you. In fact, He did it for everyone. He wants all men and women to be part of His people. We need to share this message of freedom with the world.

1 John 2:2 [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.