God’s Purpose In America
By Apostle Donald McIndoo | Published by the Board of Publications Church of Christ | Download PDF
Each man harbored his own thoughts as he surveyed the wilderness that lay just beyond the anchored vessel. What awaited them in the dark forest beyond the wind-blown surf none could tell. Three hundred sixty-nine years ago this handful of wanderers had dropped anchor off the cold New England shore. We cannot say they little-knew the import of their arrival in this “new” world, for they had come with glowing purpose. They came, as Israel had gone so many years before, into a land of promise led by their Lord.
Feeling the hand of destiny upon them they came ashore determined to build “a city set upon a hill”, as their first Governor expressed it. Coming as they did, with no nobility or gentry among them, they set about to establish a community on the principles of equality, justice and personal righteousness. Each man had set his signature upon a “constitution”, the Mayflower Compact, dedicating himself to “ …all due Submission and Obedience…“ to the general good of the entire community. Is it any wonder this ragged handful of pilgrims in a harsh land had survived and prospered when other colonies better supplied and supported had failed in milder climates? An explanation is found in Scripture:
“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand… know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments…” (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).
But all this was long ago: today America’s pilgrims explore the dark wilderness of drugs, deviate life-styles and debauchery. No need to quote all the headlines describing the fall of so many prominent politicians, preachers and economic pirates into unethical practices, greed, dishonesty and promiscuity. Meanwhile, Americans are troubled by a growing awareness of a rise in violence, anti-Semitism, racial hatred and social inequity in this land of promise. Is there a solution to such problems as these?
There definitely is! First, it is important that we understand the Lord has a purpose in America and her people. One part of that purpose is that there be established a land of liberty where men are free to worship God. He has promised that we can be a free and blessed people in this land of promise forever. However, this promise is conditional. Listen to the Lord’s words to the people of America:
“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it, shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ…”(words of the prophet Ether from the Book of Mormon).
If America is to fulfill the divine purpose and secure the blessings of God upon this land, we must repent of our many sins, and return again to the faith, humility and righteousness of our pilgrim forbears.
The Lord loves a thankful heart. Even as we lift our voices to Him in gratitude for this land of liberty and abundance, let us each join together in mighty prayer for the leaders and people of this once-great nation that we might seek justice, meekness and righteous. The prophet Zephaniah (2:3) said that in so doing we might find deliverance. Let us pray for our judges and lawmakers that each might strive for the greater good of our society. There is great power in united prayer. A wise leader long ago told his people, “…it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared…”(the words of Amulek from the Book of Mormon).
This message is brought to you by the Church of Christ, with headquarters on the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri.