"Equal rights" has long been an issue, in our nation and in the nations of the world. Those with power and money (the two almost always go together) have often sought to oppress those without power and money. Yet, our nation, from the beginning, proposed a different template, one based on the unchanging Word of the one true God. Understanding that government is not "above" God, or even above those being governed, our forefathers wrote "The Declaration of Independence," a document all but forgotten in this age of "ME first!"
Many quote the idea that we have certain rights given by God, namely, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," but few know the context of this statement. Let me share it here:
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the power of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
I share this quote from "The Declaration of Independence" for two reasons: first, to point out the necessity of a standard that goes beyond the mere judgment of men to impose upon all mankind. The writers appealed to "the laws of nature and of nature's God." They then refer to our "Creator" as the one from whom our "inalienable rights" are received. These rights can only be granted or taken away, therefore, by this God. Truly, He is the God of creation, who alone established the "laws of nature."
My second reason for quoting these words is to point out what is missing and how inadequate human intentions and documents are to accomplish that "safety and happiness" that only God can provide. What is missing in "The Declaration of Independence" and what is missing from the conversation of our Congress in the discussion of "The Equality Act" is the truth of man's condition and the need for confession of sin, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ!
Of course, one should not expect a society of men to have either the desire or the ability to establish the Kingdom of God. The best we can hope for in this world is a nation where the majority of the people know their Creator, humble themselves before Him, and confess their DEPENDENCE upon Him. That may have been the United States of America at one time, but it most certainly is not our nation today.
"Equality" is just the latest word to be redefined by those who foolishly imagine that the God our forefathers wrote about does not exist and that there are no consequences to their actions. They do not realize that by their actions they are assuring the judgment of God upon this nation, and that the only possibility of even temporarily avoiding this sure and certain judgment is the cries for mercy from those of us who have been given LIFE and LIBERTY and HAPPINESS by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as LORD!! How long the Almighty God will withhold His judgment we do not know, but it will come. It must come.
How then should we respond to such attempts by government to change the standards of "the Laws of Nature" that have been established by "Nature's God"?? We must not only speak out, but we must also point people to our Creator and to His Word, calling them to confess their sin, to repent and to believe in Jesus Christ. We must speak of the coming judgment and urge people to "Repent! for the kingdom of God is at hand!!"
When Isaiah saw the vision of God recorded in Isaiah 6, God sent Isaiah to a people who would not see and who would not believe. Like Isaiah, we who believe today share God's truth among a people who are hostile to God and to His Son Jesus Christ and to His truth. Apart from the Spirit working in them, they are spiritually dead and will remain so until or unless God Himself opens their eyes. God knows those who are His and when the last one has placed his or her hope in Jesus Christ the trumpets will sound and the judgment of God will come, not only upon the United States, but upon the nations of the world.
Much must yet happen until that day ... but we are drawing closer with each passing hour. It could be years, it could be months, it could be weeks or days before the countdown of the last seven years leading up to Jesus' return begins. "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).
Jesus is coming! Are you ready???
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