As we look at our once blessed nation, we can clearly see it rotting a little more with each passing day. Day by day our nation becomes morally obscure and politically isolated. Politicians are quick to point at the sin of others, without reflecting on their own.
Unfortunately, the common man has become roped into this never ending saga of political turmoil, corruption, and moral degradation. This has divided the citizenry into various political and cultural factions. These agenda’s have nothing to do with God, but are focused on man and his ideals.
Yes, our moral and spiritual compass went awry long ago, we have lost our course, and it appears as if we are losing our nation.
Our nation was a nation of nations.
A nation blessed above all nations.
Blessings we managed to squander over frivolous arguments, distortions of truth, and the destruction of our own laws. No enemy is to blame for this, we are doing a fine job destroying ourselves which was made possible by not only disregarding God, but disregarding our own laws.
As I thought about these things, I came upon some quotes by Abraham Lincoln. He speaks like a prophet from the Biblical past. Yes, Lincoln in the year 1838 knew America would never be defeated by a foreign power. He knew, America could only be conquered and subverted by…
Ourselves.
Today, we’re going to read some of the Lyceum Address together. We’re going to read the prophetic words of our 16th President.
“Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!–All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.”
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln knew, there was no way any occupying force could ever conquer our America. We were too smart and too blessed to be destroyed by a foreign power. Our resolve against any foreign enemy stepping foot on our land would be swift and without mercy.
“At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
Abraham Lincoln
Spoken like a prophet from long ago, Abraham knew there would be no nation upon God’s green earth that could conquer our might and will to be free.
Instead, our destruction would arise from within our own people. Division would arise and conquer a free people, as Jesus told us long ago, (Matthew 12:25).
So how did Lincoln come to this prophetic conclusion?
“I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen, amongst us. I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing disposition to substitute the wild and furious passions, in lieu of the sober judgment of Courts; and the worse than savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice.”
Abraham Lincoln
Today, as in the year 1838, there was disregard for our nations laws. Laws were good for some, but those same laws were not good for others. Laws would apply to some, but the same law would not apply to others.
How we can see the parallels in that today.
Yet, that’s not all!
In Lincoln’s time, there were “savage mobs” as there are today. In our time, these mobs became elevated in the year 2020, and they continue to this time, seeking to divide the very fabric of our nation. To transform it into something it is not, and was never intended to be.
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“This disposition is awfully fearful in any community; and that it now exists in ours, though grating to our feelings to admit, it would be a violation of truth, and an insult to our intelligence, to deny. Accounts of outrages committed by mobs, form the every-day news of the times. They have pervaded the country, from New England to Louisiana;–they are neither peculiar to the eternal snows of the former, nor the burning suns of the latter;–they are not the creature of climate– neither are they confined to the slave-holding, or the non-slave- holding States. Alike, they spring up among the pleasure hunting masters of Southern slaves, and the order loving citizens of the land of steady habits.–Whatever, then, their cause may be, it is common to the whole country.”
Abraham Lincoln
In the time of Lincoln, the “outrages committed by mobs” had reached every part of the nation. These “outrages” were not confined to one part of our country. The problems and troubles did not arise in certain states… Instead, these troubles had become common in every state.
So to have the troubles in our time consumed our entire nation.
“I know the American People are much attached to their Government;–I know they would suffer much for its sake;–I know they would endure evils long and patiently, before they would ever think of exchanging it for another. Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded, if their rights to be secure in their persons and property, are held by no better tenure than the caprice of a mob, the alienation of their affections from the Government is the natural consequence; and to that, sooner or later, it must come.”
Abraham Lincoln
Our people were once proud to be called, “Americans.”
Yet, over the course of many years, this pride was erased from our mindset. Our children were taught, people like Lincoln and our Founding Fathers were evil men, who did wrong.
For others, the pride diminished with each passing political scandal, the loss of rights, over taxation, rampant illegal immigration, and each new war that constantly presents itself. Above all, the complete disregard for our national laws which are continually broken by the political elite.
“Here then, is one point at which danger may be expected.”
Abraham Lincoln
In Lincoln’s wisdom, he surmised there must be one primary point of danger. One specific point that would lead to our national demise from our own hands…
The disregard for our own laws.
“The question recurs, “how shall we fortify against it?” The answer is simple. Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others. As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;–let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children’s liberty. Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap–let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs;–let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.”
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s remedy for national destruction was to enforce every law of our nation. To never violate one and to never tolerate a law to be violated. Every American is to pledge “his life, his property, and his sacred honor” for this cause.
To violate this sacred oath is to trample on the blood our own family members. Even our ancestors whose precious blood was spilled so we could have this nation and the blessings God bestowed upon it.
If we could accomplish this…
“While ever a state of feeling, such as this, shall universally, or even, very generally prevail throughout the nation, vain will be every effort, and fruitless every attempt, to subvert our national freedom.”
Abraham Lincoln
If we could stand for the rule of law, then no nation or endeavor would ever subvert these United States of America. Lincoln closed his speech by saying, let our principals stand…
“…let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.””
Abraham Lincoln
Appropriately cited from Scripture, (Matthew 16:18).
Simply stated, if our nation could withstand problems together. If every American held firm to the law, and ensured it was enforced, no nation or cause from within could prevail against it.
Unfortunately, we have not heeded such words of wisdom. We have perverted ourselves and squandered our blessings. We give them freely to other nations, and allow others to enter to take them.
Not then, nor today have we heeded Lincoln’s words of wisdom, and we are beginning to reap the rewards of our foolish works.