THE HOPE OF AMERICA VS. AMERICA’S HOPE

Robert Meredith

  What is the hope of America?  Compare that to America’s hope.  The hope of America is the same as the hope of any nation:  the resurrected Christ.  Paul declared, “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our Fathers:  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come.  For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:6-8).  Furthermore, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life:  No man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).  Also, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).  Therefore, the hope of America is the pure Gospel of our Lord.

  The Gospel is our only hope, but for what does America hope?  Webster says hope means, “To want or wish for something with a feeling of confident expectation.”  For the majority, for what does our nation strive?  Is it for the Gospel or for her own fleshly wants?  In the United States today, it is estimated that only 10% of the people will be in “worship” services on any given Sunday.  And, my friends, this is counting all of what the world calls “Christianity”.  And we are considered a “Christian Nation”?

  Previously, on the ABC television network, a series was aired, NYPD Blues.  Television analysts have said that this show had explicit language and partial nudity in many of the episodes.  What has happened to our morals and standards of right and wrong?  It is sad that we can no longer blush.  I long for the days of Leave it to Beaver and The Waltons.  Our (America’s) hope (desire plus expectation) is far from what will save our souls.

  Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jews first and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from  faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:16-17).  Our hope is the Gospel, let us turn to it for eternal life and let us not follow after unrighteousness.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).