Have you ever felt like you needed a vacation to get over your vacation? Our family went to Washington DC for our vacation and there was no rest for the weary the entire week. If you’ve been there, you know there is enough to keep you busy for weeks and weeks. My family tried to do it all in seven days. Many days we were up at 5:30 a.m. and running full speed ahead until midnight. And this was a vacation?
It has been reported that our new president said we are not a Christian nation. As we toured the buildings built by our forefathers and viewed the documents and artifacts they left behind, our roots were crying out otherwise.
When we toured Mt. Vernon, the tour guide shared how Washington was a man of devout faith. Pictures of him hung in the museum at Mt. Vernon depicting him in prayer. The father of our country intimately knew Our Father who art in heaven [Matthew 6:9].
In the Library of Congress, I read several quotes etched in the marble. One clearly stated “The only true temple resides within man.” I immediately thought of 1 Corinthians 6:19 where Paul states our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who resides in us.
I sat in the Supreme Court looking at the chairs along the bench. The people who sit in those seats are committed to justice and truth to maintain freedom in our land. John 8:32 came to mind, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
In the National Archives we entered the rotunda and I found myself staring at the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights. It was amazing to see these documents which helped form our nation and realize they had been preserved all these years. I found myself captivated by the first three words of the Constitution-“We the people…” I couldn’t seem to go on. I stepped back to allow others to pass, but continued to focus on those three words.
The United States of America is made up of “we the people,” not buildings. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it was an amazing experience to walk through the buildings and stand where so many great men and women had roamed as they shaped our country. However, as I stood there, I felt “we the people” could prove our president wrong if we would turn back to our foundational roots of faith.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 the Lord declares “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.” Our American heritage is that of a Christian nation. We have opened our doors to any and all who wish to enter; however, you cannot spend time in Washington DC and not recognize we were established as a nation based on Christian principles. Even our money claims “In God We Trust.”
It is time for believers across this land to do all we can to make certain we maintain our Christian heritage. We need to make sure our elected officials know where we stand on the issues and implore them to vote accordingly. We need to spend time regularly on our knees for the leaders of our country and cry out to God on behalf of our nation and repent for turning from Him as a country.
Our God is faithful and He is looking for those who are faithful to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a says “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” What will He find when His eyes rest upon you?