Dear Christian friends:

This weekend we celebrate the independence of our nation. Two hundred and seven years ago the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed by the founding fathers of America. Since that time God has richly blessed our nation and made it a "great" nation, perhaps the greatest nation ever. People from other nations envy us. They invest their money here because they know that the USA is more secure than other nations. Many want to move here and live here. Immigration visas have increased 32% since 1978. Although our nation has some faults and weaknesses it is still a great nation.

And we want it to remain a great nation in the future. You can help America remain a great nation. Our text tells us what makes a nation great and implies what we must do to keep it great.


What makes a nation great?

People have various answers to that question. Some people say that size, geographical land area, makes a nation great. Well, America is a large land-area nation, but Russia, the Soviet Union, is a much larger land-area, about three times larger land-area than the USA. Is Russia a great nation? Most of us in America do not consider Russia a great nation. We have no desire to move there and live there. Size alone does not make a nation great.

What makes a nation great? Some people answer, "Population." China has the largest population, over one billion people live in China. Is China a great nation? USA has only 270,000,000 people and it is a much greater nation than China. India also has a large population, 600,000,000, but India is not a great nation. Population alone does not make a nation great.

What makes a nation great? Some answer, "Natural resources." America has many natural resources: more coal than any other nation, enough to last 300 years. America also has abundant water and land, good farm land for growing food and many other natural resources. But Saudi Arabia has much more oil than the USA. And other countries have more oil and minerals for industry than the USA. Is Saudi Arabia a great nation? We do not think so. Natural resources alone do not make a nation great.

What makes a nation great? Some people answer, "Military power." America has much military power, army, air force, navy and marines are very strong and have many new high tech weapons. But now it appears that Russia has more military power than the USA. President Reagan says they do, and he wants us to spend over 200 billion this year and over one trillion for military power during the next few years so we can catch up with them. I disagree with President Reagan about that. I think we have plenty military power now. Military power alone does not make a nation great.

What makes a nation great? Some people answer, "Good schools, colleges and universities." America has had good schools, colleges and universities. Twelve million Americans are now enrolled in our colleges and universities, 1.05 million black people also. Over 5% of our people are in college now. The next closest nation is Germany, but only about 3% of their people are in college now. But good schools and universities alone do not make a nation great.

Well, what makes a nation great? Our text answers, "Righteousness (doing right) makes a nation great." "Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation." When the people of a nation believe in God and pray to Him and thank Him and obey His Commandments then God blesses that nation and makes it a great nation. God will protect that nation against its enemies and those nations who do wrong. The Bible says, "Blessed (happy) is the nation whose God is the Lord; happy are the people He has chosen for His own! The Lord looks down from heaven and sees all people. From where He rules, He looks down on all who live on earth. He has made their hearts; He watches everything they do.

A king does not win because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength. War horses are useless for victory: their great strength cannot save. The Lord watches those who have reverence for Him, those who trust in His constant love. He saves them from death; He keeps them alive in time of famine. (Psalm 33:12-19) Doing right makes a nation great, but wrong doing makes a nation a disgrace (shame).

During the past 207 years God has blessed America because Americans have believed in God and have tried to honor Him and obey His commandments. Even today Americans give more for charity than all other nations combined. On any weekend 80 million Americans go to church.

You can help America remain a great nation. Continue doing right, obey God's Commandments! If you do wrong, repent and ask His forgiveness in Jesus' name. And then with His help try to always do what is right. And also talk to others and influence them to respect God and obey His Commandments.

This means continue to go to church to remember God's Word and to receive His Spirit to do right in Jesus' name.

Then God will continue to bless America and America will continue to be a great nation in the future.

Help America stay great!

Amen.