Proverbs 14:34
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
As stated in the inaugural post of the Ideas Series, if we as a Nation are to ever regain true course, it will not occur by simply replacing who's in the White House or who's in Congress or who's sitting on the bench in the Supreme Court. These are all nice starts, but a true course change can only begin when people's hearts are turned to God.
Because it bears repeating, read what Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
Notice that it's not Conservatism that exalts a nation. It's righteousness. What is righteousness? Who defines what it is? Of course, the answer to the latter is God defines righteousness, along with good, wicked and how one gets saved to name a few.
So, what is righteousness? Let the Bible define the word and see that it means according to Deuteronomy 12:28 -
"Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God."
Therefore, in simple terms, righteousness is to do that which good & right in God's sight. Now listen, God is righteous; subsequently, His pronouncements, statutes, laws, etc. are righteous. Evil cannot flow from a righteous God just like bad fruit cannot come from a good tree.
The truth is that there is not and can never be anything outside of the nature of God which can move Him in the least degree. No one can compel Him to act outside of His nature. All of God’s reasons come from within His uncreated being. Nothing has entered the being of God from eternity, nothing has been removed, and nothing has been changed (Heb. 13:8).
God acts justly. He is not doing so to conform to an independent criterion, but simply acting like Himself in a given situation. God is His own self-existent principle of moral equity, and when He sentences evil men or rewards the righteous, He simply acts like Himself from within, uninfluenced by anything that is not Himself.
It stands then that the man who exhibits righteousness is right in God's eyes, for He has
the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:5-6; II Cor. 5:21). And the only way to be clothed with Christ's righteousness is by being born again (Jn. 3:7) and saved (Rom. 10:9-10). It cannot be stressed enough: You need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3-4). Even one sin makes us guilty of all in God's eyes (Jms 2:10).
Finally, also take note that it's not perfection that exalts a nation. It's righteousness.
Reader, the right thing to do is get right with God and settle the matter before the Day of Reckoning. Secondly, follow Christ's righteousness in believer's baptism. Thirdly, join a Bible believing, local New Testament church and grow through God's Word. Get involved in a ministry that the Lord directs you to, with the help of the pastor. Finally, be a shining light in a dark and dying world (Matt. 5:16).
Reclaim the lost mandate of heaven and in doing so you are redeeming these evil days. Pray for this Nation (Jms. 5:16b), that others will join you in prayer & deed towards making this Nation one that acts righteously, and its leaders humble themselves before a holy and just God. America has been great because of God. If we fall, it will be because of our failure to honor God as our Sovereign Authority and Lord.
Must we watch our beloved land become mired in the pigsty of compromise and fearfulness? It is the Christian that must stand up for what is right. We must not fear the wrath of man or the condemnation of sinners. They hated Jesus, so if we are the light which exposes their evil, they will hate us as well.
What would God's personal message to America be if He spoke to us audibly in this day? I believe he would say, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Let us pray for our land and resolve to do our best to make America great again. If we achieve anything, it is God which must accomplish it!
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Friend, if you are not saved then I plead with you to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord & Saviour.
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