Were We Ever Great?

The state of our country is rocky at best as I write this. Lives have been turned upside down from a new widespread virus and then destroyed by horrible acts of racism. As we come around to celebrating the independence of the United States once again, this question is plaguing me; Were we ever a great nation?

First, what does great mean?

According to the Google dictionary it means, "of an extent, amount of intensity considerably above the normal or average."

Sadly this definition is subjective at best because what is normal? What is average? Yes, the US has been ahead in many ways of many things, especially technology and for many years we were the wealthiest nation in the world. We have had power and prestige.

But really, is any of this great?

When I think about our history, while there are things that could be categorized as great, I cannot help but ask what did this greatness cost?

Was it great when the Europeans came over and took over the land of the natives, killing and driving them off because they wanted their land?

Was it great that we used "superior" weapons to make sure we destroyed as many as possible?

Was it great that we kidnapped people from their homes and built a home and legacy on the backs of slaves?

Was it great that we had a civil war because there was no agreement on how we should treat humanity and killed not only slaves but each other because of our own greed?

Was it great that people were (and in many ways still are) segregated because of skin tone or ethnicity?

When you look at how we have treated and still treat each other in this country, the answer is a resounding NO! Our greatness isn't defined by wealth, technology and what we have. Our greatness is defined by whether or not we live according to the Law of God.

In fact, I can only think of one time in history that any country could be called great. That was in the beginning after God had made all and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and God declared it good!

But soon it all went to hell, literally, as Adam and Eve brought sin into the world and we have been in chaos and turmoil ever since that day. We continue to live in this sin, hating each other, living for ourselves and our style and our preferences, doing what we believe in our hearts is right.

This is why we are not great, because this is true of the US today. And until we fall on our faces in repentance for our sin, our hatred, our greed, our malice, our bowing to self, we can never hope to be great. Therefore, repent and turn to Jesus and ask Him to reveal your heart. Live for God in true freedom which glorifies Him and Him alone, not ourselves and our agendas.

This is greatness: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

As you celebrate today, remember that the point of freedom is to lift others up and in this we love God and glorify His Name.