Good Morning Friends,
“For the Lord says: ‘By the strength of my
hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I
removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty
one I subdued their kings. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for
the wealth of the nations; as men gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the
countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’ Does the ax
raise itself above him who swings it, or the saw boast against him who uses it?
As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it up, or a club brandish him who is
not wood!” (Isaiah 10:13-15)
Have you ever wondered why America turned out
like it has? Who provided us with our
wealth? Who gave us our power and influence?
Is it by our own strength? Is it through our own superior intelligence? Is it
fate, because of our natural resources and the timing of their discovery?
No to all of the above. According to what God
spoke through Isaiah, nations are like axes in the hands of a forester, like a
saw in the hands of a carpenter, like a rod or club in the hands of a warrior. All
of these are only tools, instruments in the hands of ones who control them and
use them. So nations are tools in the hands of God. They are instruments for
Him to use to accomplish His purposes.
America is not what it is because we have
achieved it. America is what it is because God has allowed it, even provided
it. America is what it is because God has chosen to use us in this way for this
time. According to His will, He can choose to use us for a different purpose in
a time yet ahead.
Does that make you feel uneasy, as though you
are standing on slippery ground? It shouldn’t. Ultimately, all of God’s
purposes are good. And whether in pain or pleasure, glory or dishonor, we are
God’s to use to accomplish His purposes.
It shouldn’t bring uneasiness, but an awesome
awareness that we are involved in something bigger than America, bigger than
earthly pleasure, bigger than ourselves. We are involved in what God is doing
in history and for eternity.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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