December 12, 2020

Subject: Isaiah’s Answer for how to Save America, Part 5: Follow Jesus Christ

What was the American Revolution? It was an insurrection. The 13 colonies revolted against the ruling civil authority, the government of Great Britain. From 1625 until 1775, the colonial population grew from 2,000 to 2.4 million, all that time under the authority of a nation numbering 8.0 million people, with over 2.0 million in their military. The colonial military, led by General Washington, numbered 80,000 at its peak.

What ignited the overwhelmingly outnumbered colonies to revolt against the most powerful nation in existence at that time? Our “Declaration of Independence” lists 26 reasons. But it is the opening two sentences that form the foundation for the American Revolution, and they are both centered on the colony’s desire to replace the tyranny of the earthly King George III with the liberty of King Jesus Christ.

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

In this opening sentence, “Laws of Nature” originates with Nature’s God, so they transcend mankind. Mark Levin explains: “Natural law provides a moral compass or order – justice, virtue, truth, prudence, etc. – a fundamental, universal, everlasting harmony of mores that transcend human law. Through natural law discovered by right reason, man knows right from wrong and good from bad. Natural law is right law.”

The second sentence is the #1 principle guiding America. But, like seeing a “John 3:16” sign at a football game, it is poorly understood and rarely discussed in public. Principle #1 is that man is accountable to God, not King George: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Our Founders grounded individual human liberties in God to protect us all from government reach as well as from the rule of majority opinion. Our laws today are centered on this Constitutional imperative.

Can you name the battle cry of the American Revolution, that rallied our founding fathers against King George III of Britain? The true story, now removed from our nation’s classrooms, is worth telling.

On April 18, 1775, John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Reverend Jonas Clarke. British General Gage announced to the colonists that if they would lay down their arms, all would be forgiven, except for Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were singled out as the instigators. That same night, Paul Revere arrived at Reverend Clarke’s home to warn them that the Redcoats were approaching.

The very next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen; “Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England.” Reverend Clarke responded with what is known as the Battle Cry of the American Revolution: “We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.” Reverend Clarke became the leader of the militia in Lexington.

This nation is founded on Jesus Christ. In this week’s verse, Isaiah gives another amazing prophecy on Jesus: He will one day take His rightful place as King over those who willingly submit to His rule. As the great patriot Patrick Henry declared: “It can’t be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians: not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 9:6 also defines more details on Jesus: “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” “Prince of Peace” means “General over Prosperity, Safety and Peace”. Isaiah says this Child, who is God’s Son, is our General overseeing the quiet confidence in our hearts. It is a picture of the Cross, where Jesus, as God in the flesh, restored peace between us and God.

The apostle Paul explained this verse well to the church in Colossae: “It pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).

How does a person get this peace in their hearts? The same way the colonists did – by following Jesus Christ, who has delivered on His promise to reunite you in a personal, loving relationship with the Father.

Ed Croteau is a resident of Lee’s Summit and hosts a weekly study in Lees Summit called “Faith: Substance and Evidence.” He can be reached with your questions through the Lee’s Summit Tribune at [email protected].