They came to the lawn by the U.S. Capitol Building to be part of a Memorial Day celebration. They came to remember and pay tribute to their comrades. They came to honor the fallen. The came to be honored and inspired. Those who came are the men and women who served or are currently serving our country. They came with their families and friends to an event called The National Memorial Day Concert. The mission of the Concert is "to unite the country in remembrance and appreciation of the fallen and to serve those who are grieving." The methods used by the organizers of the Concert include musical performances, documentary clips and readings of stories of heroes of service.
There is something about this event that draws one in. Perhaps it is the spirit of unity and encouragement that is obvious. Even more likely is that the stories shared and the songs that are played and sung remind us that our country had a godly foundation. This year retired General Colin Powell was asked to speak. He reminded his listeners that we have an obligation to help those who have gone to battle for our freedoms. He pointed us toward Scripture and repeated some of the verses of Isaiah 61--the same verses that described the call on the life of Jesus. "Heal the brokenhearted...provide for those who grieve...bestow the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." The entire evening began with the orchestra playing the chords to "God Bless America." Everyone was treated to a medley of "America the Beautiful" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The words of these songs are worth reading: "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America, America! God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea." "Battle Hymn of the Republic:" "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on." "In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free! While God is marching on." Everyone was invited to join the choirs in singing "God Bless America:" "God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home." It is our faith in God that becomes the underpinning of our lives, especially when we are shaken by the tragedy of war and grieved by our losses. Who but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--the Great I Am--can heal and restore and bless? No one. The writers of these songs knew this when they were inspired to write them. And as these songs are sung, the words bring us back to who we are meant to be--a people of God. The founders of the United States of America intended for us to honor God and to follow Him. Many have gotten off track. However, we worship a God of mercy and compassion who excels in grace. The last line of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" says, "God is marching on." He remembers His plans and purposes. He marches on, with the help of His Church, to establish His Kingdom here on earth. Let us thank and praise Him for His unfailing love and mercy. One of the first signs of new life erupting in nature is that the buds on the trees and shrubs begin to swell. The entire silhouette of the trees has been changing for the past two weeks. This is a sign that they will burst out in new growth within a short time. This sign is an assurance that the plant community will bloom again.
As I contemplate this sign in nature I see a similar swelling, so to speak, in the Christian community. As all of nature prepares to burst forth in bloom, the community of faith in Jesus Christ is swelling through their prayers and fasting for our nation that is in desperate need of a great awakening. Sadly, the Church became ineffective when complacency set in, and the enemy of our souls filled the void. Our nation has become like a parched desert, in desperate need of living water. God addresses this issue in the letter to the Church in Laodicea. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:15-22) There are powerful leaders in the Christian community who have heard from the Lord and have been willing to sacrifice their lives to rally the troops to turn America back to God by uniting us in prayer and fasting for our nation. Such leaders as Dutch Sheets (Appeal to Heaven), Lewis Hogan (United Cry DC16) and Lou Engle (The Call Azusa Now) have been sent by God, like Elijah, to prophesy over our dry bones and to call forth breath into our very being that we may live the way God intended for us to live. The remnant of God's people is pregnant with anointing to break the yoke of oppression, to set the captives free and to restore righteousness to our land. We are like the people of Israel when God told them through the prophet Isaiah that the burden of the Assyrians would depart from them. "In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat." ("because of the anointing." - KJV) (Isaiah 10:27) I hear the Lord calling us to abundant life. I sense His desire for deep intimacy with us. I remember that Jesus came to earth as the Redeemer. I wonder if this might be the Kairos time for the Kingdom of Heaven to break into earth in its fullness. We are in the midst of the year of Jubilee, a year meant for freedom, redemption and restoration. Could it be that we are on the earth for such a time as this? I believe that the remnant of God's church is being called to join the movement to restore our nation to its godly foundations. We are pregnant with the purposes of God, like the swelling tree buds that are preparing to break forth and are a sign that the time is drawing near. We want to be part of this remnant to restore our nation to its godly inheritance. The labor is not easy, but we do not want to miss this opportunity to birth the purposes of the Lord here on earth. The word of the Lord goes out from His mouth. It will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which it was sent. (Isaiah 55:11) I hear Him saying, "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom, it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy...'Be strong, do not fear, your God will come...' Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:1-6) |
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