What or Whom Do You Trust?

Chuckle: "I eat out occasionally, but I never go to the same restaurant twice," a man remarked. To which his friend replied, "I don't leave a tip either!"

Quote: "When you cannot trust God, you cannot trust anything; and when you cannot trust anything you get the condition of the world as it is today." --Basil King

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7 NIV). "The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Psalm 46:11 NIV).

The United States is perhaps the greatest military power the world has ever known. The destructive force available to us as a nation is almost beyond comprehension. However, history is replete with accounts of powerful nations who were brought to their knees not by superior military power but by moral corruption and decay from within. As a "super power," it's tempting to see ourselves as invincible and place our trust in the power we have created rather than in the One who is the Super Power.

In the Old Testament, there are many accounts of Israel flourishing as a nation and then, because of their sin and disobedience to God, declining into a weak nation of helpless people dominated and enslaved by more powerful and evil nations. What makes us Americans think we are any different? What makes us think nothing or anyone can bring us down? If my sense of the mood in this country is correct, we may not be nearly as cocky and certain of our invincibility as we once were. Could God be placing these doubts in our minds to make us renew our individual and national dependence upon Him instead of our military and economic power? In what or whom do you trust?

Down through history, nations have risen to great power and boasted about their armies and weapons only to see that power crumble and vanish in the dust. In our passage, David was concerned about this very thing. He knew that the true greatness of a nation was measured not by the power of its weaponry, but by the quality of its worship -- trusting in God's power rather than military power.

If you share King David's concern as it relates to our beloved country, perhaps you and each of us should be asking, what can I do to help ensure the greatness of our nation is preserved? I know you are familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, but it bears repeating here. "If my people (that's you and me), 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 heal their land."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Christian in America would model his/her life after this passage? If we did so and once more placed our trust in God rather than ourselves, we would be opening the door for Him to do miraculous things. Maybe our humble and repentant hearts would convince God that it would be worth His while to heal and restore America to its former God-given greatness.

Love, Jerry & Dotse