What Makes America Great?

What do Eilin, Trang, Juan, and Peter have in common? They all have recently become citizens of the United States of America. With proud and radiant smiles they swore allegiance to the USA. Some people like to “slam” the US and point out its faults. But it’s interesting that millions of people want to come to America and very few want to leave America.

What makes America so great?

First – THE FOUNDING “FATHERS” were great men and women of faith. The early pilgrims and political leaders had courage, foresight, and a sense of God’s guiding providence. They drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America for our governance. These two documents have been unmatched throughout history. They affirmed that God has “endowed” all people with the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” because He values each of us.

Second – THE PEOPLE of America are great people. Despite what many people think, the majority of Americans believes in God and hold to Judeo-Christian beliefs and traditional family values. They are hard working and support a strong military to defend our freedom and the freedom of other people regardless of their religion. Americans send more aid and charitable gifts to the poor and needy throughout the world than any other country does.

Third – THE GOD OF AMERICA is great. When members of the Second Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence they plainly declared their belief in God. The writers knew that the freedoms they were proposing could only work in a society where the Creator is acknowledged. The motto of the United States of America that is emblazed on our currency, and implied in the Pledge of Allegiance, is “In God We Trust”. As long as the people of the United States acknowledge their dependence on and trust in God America will remain a great nation.

After 9/11 thousands of Americans gathered in houses of worship to pray. Long ago God gave a promise to those who would seek His face in prayer, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

When the Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited America to see what made her great, he concluded that it was not our great natural resources nor the halls of learning nor in Congress but it was when he visited America’s houses of worship that he discovered why America is great.

Fourth – THE GRACE OF GOD has made America great. Throughout American history there have been periods of “great awakening”. Spiritual revival has saved our country many times from almost certain disaster and destruction. May we pray for another national spiritual awakening. America is not great because we are better than other people, but only in the sense that we have experienced God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9) True freedom can only be sustained by people who fear and reverence God. The king of Israel exclaimed, “Know that the Lord, He is God’ it is He who has made us and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3).

The motto of the state of Hawaii is the result of the influence of Christian missionaries who first went to Hawaii in 1820. It expresses a great truth in the Hawaiian language: “Na mau ke ia o do aina I ka pono” – which means, “The life of the land is preserved in righteousness.”

Righteousness is what makes a nation great and preserves it. A declaration, constitution, nor congress alone can make or sustain a great nation. What makes a nation great is the righteousness of its people – recognizing their need for God and worked out in their relationships with others. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). How can we be made righteous? Only through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9-10).

An old patriotic hymn should be our sincere prayer, “America, America, God shed his grace on thee.”

Happy birthday, America! Happy 4th of July, to you! God shed His grace on you.