60 Seconds – Preserving or Destroying a Nation

In 1778, at the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin made the motion to those assembled that the convention should not proceed without an opening prayer each day.

He stated, “I have lived for a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth, THAT GOD GOVERNS IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that, ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ ”

In Proverbs 14:34, Solomon declared, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” It is false to believe that a nation can be built solely on the gross national product or defend it with weapons. God says that countries are built on the character of their people. Righteousness exalts, but sin degrades nations.

A. Dudley Dennison, M. D., revealed, “A great historian once reported that the death of twenty major civilizations in history came not from the holocaust of war, but the inner cancer of moral decay.”

In a study of 15,000 documents pertaining to the founding of America, it was discovered that 34 percent of the quotes found in those documents came directly from the Bible. It was further noted that an additional 64 percent of the quotes were from others whom had made reference to the Bible. Consequently, 94 percent of the quotes of America’s founding fathers can be traced to the Scriptures.

A December 27, 1982, article in Newsweek claimed, “Historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our founding document.” Solomon also wrote, “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” The righteous acts, prayers, and guidance of the godly bring blessing. However, the evil advice of the wicked bring ruin. “It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation’s humble acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence” (John Adams, Second President of the United States).