Righteousness – It Exalts A Nation

Since Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on ObamaCare, I have seen all manner of exposition and explanation for why Chief Justice John Roberts’ ruling was brilliant. I have been asked if I want conservative judges, oppose liberal judges, want those that are Republican, and oppose those that are Democrats. Do I want originalists and oppose activists.

I take none of the above.

I want righteousness.

I want elected and appointed officials who will stand by the rule of law, the laws of nature, and Nature’s God. In the words of the late, great Dr. Adrian Rogers—God’s laws.

Thousands of years ago, King Solomon warned us:

    “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

All who rule over people are to be righteous. God demands that rulers of the land be godly and if not He will remove His hand of protection and provision:

    “It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:12)

Most Christians understand that revival is needed to return our nation back to its founding, but many do not know how to bring revival about or even what it would look like. The Prophet Isaiah gives a clear example of what King Jesus’ rule will be:

    “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, though hail comes down on the forest, and the city is brought low in humiliation.” (Isaiah 32:15-19)

Of course no one is Jesus, but we are to strive as Christians to be Christlike. Right now in America, sin is no longer a reproach. Wickedness from our rulers is tolerated and almost expected. When I say I cannot support a certain candidate because that person is a liar, I am told that all politicians are liars, as though we are to accept it.

My mother taught me one of the worst labels you could have is that of a liar. She taught us that our word was our bond; her daddy was a righteous man and everyone knew that John Furtado’s word was as good as gold. Now, too many men sell their word for thirty pieces of silver.

We cannot keep electing unrighteous men and women to represent us and expect the blessings of God, even though we do.

    “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 11:11)

The Father of Our Country George Washington, our first president was a righteous man and he openly declared that government must have God’s stamp of approval if it is to thrive:

    “That Government alone can be approved by Heaven, which promotes peace and secures protection to its Citizens in every thing that is dear and interesting to them…”

Our Founders knew that the rule of law would hold our nation together and that ignoring it would be our undoing:

    “A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader…If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.” –Samuel Adams

My buddy Mark Levin destroyed the nonsensical analysis that Chief Justice Roberts and the other four conservative justices somehow did an end around on the liberal judges. That would require a conspiracy among those justices and I can say without hesitation that I know Justice Clarence Thomas would never be a part of such deceit.

Americans are reaching for straws in this ruling to not have to admit that great damage was done to our Constitution by Chief Justice Roberts and the four justices who agreed with him. And because great damage was done to our Constitution, more of our liberties were surrendered to an internal invader.

It was not a righteous thing that was done by the Supreme Court last Thursday. And if it is true as I have read of some sort of end around being done by “our side,” then it was treachery. Last time I looked in a thesaurus, treachery was not a synonym for righteousness.

If we truly want revival to come to our nation, then we must demand righteousness from ourselves and our leaders. It is through righteousness the life we seek will be found.

More on that tomorrow…

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2012 David Jeffers

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