America, in her relatively short history, has come a long way. Her progress and prosperity have appealed to the thoughts and dreams of people the world over. The freedom she offers causes many to leave their homes and possessions and come to this land. Today, as citizens, we are blessed with the privilege of living in the wealthiest nation in all of history. Our way of life, even those in poverty, is on a higher level than in many of the world's nations. We live surrounded by plenty, sitting at our tables, with our cups overflowing with blessings.

Do we ever think that this flow of blessings could possibly stop? We spend a great deal of time talking about our freedoms; but too many of us do nothing to deserve them. This nation was founded on faith in God and belief in the individual's right to control his own life and destiny. This makes America unique in a world of dictators and premiers.

Today's America has many serious problems. Faith and trust in God are decreasing, and the federal government continues to take more and more of our personal freedoms. Some of the gravest dangers we face as a nation are the corrupted morals, perverted justice, and tolerated lawlessness in the streets. It is up to us whether we live rejoicing or mourning.

What can I, as an American, do to help this nation? Only when the citizens of this country work together as a composite unit, seeking what is right, in a God-centered culture, can a nation such as ours realize its full potential of worth and glory. Because the emphasis is on the individual, it gets right down to us. As American citizens, we are the individuals who cause this nation either to prosper or to fall.

IN GOD WE TRUST

This country was founded on faith and trust in God as the creator and sustainer of life. The individuals who formed this nation believed that all blessings flow from God. That is why our money, in all its forms, displays the words, "IN GOD WE TRUST." The United States constitution is founded on the principles in the Bible, the inspired Word of God. The men who wrote the constitution, and who formed this nation, believed in God and in the Bible as His word.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, "The first and almost the only book deserving of universal distinction is the Bible. I speak as a man of the world to the men of the world and I say to you, Search the Scriptures."

THOMAS JEFFERSON, "I have always said, and will always say, that the studious persistence of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands."

PATRICK HENRY, "There is a book worth all other books in the world! I want to agree with the great and good men who have said The Bible is God's word."

DANIEL WEBSTER, "If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering, but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury us and our glory in profound obscurity."

If this nation is to remain free and prosperous, we must return to a strong faith and trust in God and his divine word. "There is none like unto thee, O Jehovah; thou art great, and thy name is great in might, Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee, Jehovah is the true God,' he is the living God; and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation" (Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10). "Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah" (Psalms 33:12).

RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION

Many years ago, the wise man Solomon gave God's warning to all nations. "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). Righteousness means living according to God's teachings and commandments, as contained in His word. The Proverbs writer declares that all nations exist or fall in direct proportion to their respect or disrespect for God's moral law.

A nation exists until the spiritual or moral salt of righteousness is gone. In the days of Noah, when the entire earth had become corrupt, God determined to destroy it; yet, by His grace, He extended its time by 120 years. During that period, Noah built the ark in the sight of all and preached righteousness to the people. But they refused to see and hear, for only eight persons were prepared to enter the ark before the flood and destruction swept them away.

The people of Sodom and Gomorrah became "wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly" (Genesis 13:13); therefore, Jehovah determined to destroy them. Abraham interceded for the people and asked God to spare the cities if ten righteous people could be found. The ten were not found, so God destroyed the two cities. When there was no righteousness to preserve the people, they were fit for nothing but destruction (Genesis 18).

If our nation is to survive, we must live according to God's principles of righteousness. We must teach our children to fear God and obey his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We must demand that our leaders govern and live by the moral and spiritual principles that made this country great! "It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness," for the throne is established by righteousness" (Proverbs 16:12). "The wicked shall be turned back unto the grave, even all the nations that forget God" (Psalms 9: 17).

PRAY FOR THE NATION

We are commanded to pray in behalf of our leaders who have authority over us. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men," for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This prayer directly seeks God's guidance for those in high places. Why should we pray for our rulers? We pray so that our quiet and peaceful lives here on earth will continue. Our prayers to God could very well mean the difference between war and peace, between freedom and bondage for our people.

What America is, depends on what Americans are. It is conceivable that our nation might not always be the stronghold of freedom it is today. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Proverbs 29:2).