Thoughts about American History
When God created the land we call America, He sculpted and painted a masterpiece. People created in God’s image have lived here for centuries. Using the intelligence God placed in their hearts and minds and the strength He gave their bodies, these people have found many ways to use what He has provided in abundance. These people have lived the story of American history. We are still living it today.
All history happens in a place. American history has happened along America’s coastlines, on its prairies, in its mountains, beside its lakes, and within its forests.
My heart’s desire is that we will be in constant awe of what God has created in America, both the physical place and the people whom God in His wisdom has placed here. By seeing what God made, we learn about Him:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and His divine nature,
have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made . . . .
Romans 1:20
As people created in the image of God, we are living history every day in a place God made. Our responsibility is to conduct ourselves according to the will of the One who made us. Americans are a richly blessed people. Like every person who has ever lived (except Jesus), we Americans are sinners in need of grace.
Our history has many beautiful stories. We have done many things right, but not everything. Some of our stories are not so beautiful. As we learn in Acts, every person is a son or daughter of Adam. People around the world have arrived at the place where they live now because of good things that have happened and bad things that have happened. Our heavenly Father takes those good and bad things and works His perfect will.
He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,
having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist . . .
Acts 17:26-28
So here we are right now, living American history in America. It is up to us to make sure that the stories we contribute to American history are the beautiful ones.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2