Dr. Marc Drake
Dr. Marc Drake, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Sun Lakes
In 1787, when the Constitution for our nation was drafted, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin what the founders had given the American people. Would it be a republic or a monarchy? Franklin replied, “A republic, madam—if you can keep it.” By God’s grace, it has been kept all of these years. However, the question must be asked: Can we continue to keep it? It does seem during these extremely troubling times that we are in danger of losing the very foundation that made our country exceptional in the first place.
Yes, we live in a nation not nearly as hospitable to our faith and convictions as it was a few decades ago. But panic, of course, is not the answer to what we are seeing in our day. We must remember the words of 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you.” We do well to recall that people persecuted Jesus. Will they treat his followers any better?
Yet, despite the unspeakable chaos of our day, it is a joy beyond description to be a part of Christ’s church! For the church continues to thrive around the world by boldly carrying out his commands. In fact, throughout history, the church has survived opposing movements, philosophies, nations, leaders, and empires. It has survived every imaginable attempt to bring about its destruction. And, yes, the church will also survive the upcoming elections! So, as much as I hope for certain results in November, my prayer is the one Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It seems to me that this is the safest prayer we could pray in terms of the November elections (as well as any other election).
Thus, in the midst of all the turmoil and division in our land, let us pray that God will strengthen, protect, and use his church in extraordinary ways and that he will send a sweeping spiritual awakening to our spiritually impoverished nation. Can anything other than such an awakening save us from the moral abyss into which America seems to be rapidly heading? Surely our heart cries out in prayer with the psalmist, “Will you be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:5-7)