There are always some adjustments to be made when one moves—moving onto a military base has its own unique set of adventures, to be sure.  For my daughter, it is convenient to be close to the hangar where she works; for me, it is adjusting to a new culture where I am a bit of an outsider.

At 8:00 every morning the Star – Spangled Banner is played over loud speakers on base as the U.S. flag is raised; and at sundown, “colors” are played as the flag is lowered.  Everyone on base who is outdoors is required to stand at attention, facing the direction of the flag at those times.  Most people want to scurry inside when they hear the 5-minute notice, not so much because we aren’t patriotic, rather just because we don’t want to stand there (I found out that it isn’t just me).  As I’ve watched others stand at attention in the playgrounds (my most frequent location with my granddaughter), I have become much less self-conscious.

I am rarely outdoors in the morning for the raising of the flag, though one time I was out walking—I just happened to be in a position where I could look down the street and watch as the Red, White, and Blue was released to fly another day.  I have learned to appreciate those moments, and even when I hear the trumpet recordings from indoors, as opportunities to reflect on this nation, where we came from and where we are now—and where it seems to be we are heading.

As I considered writing this post, I decided it would be a good idea to brush up on my American history—yes, Christian principles formed the basis of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—and a number of men who signed those documents were Christians.  The interesting thing is that it seems our country has become what our founding fathers were hoping to escape!

I have been reading the book of Jeremiah lately and my heart is taken with the impact of God’s words:  “If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.  And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it” (Jeremiah 18:7-10).

These words were written concerning Israel, but they are not exclusive to that nation.  If any nation, particularly a nation that chose to honor God at its foundation, turns away from Him in rebellion, scripture assures us that destruction may very well lie in its future.  Jeremiah was mocked, threatened, ignored, and persecuted for speaking God’s words to Israel and it is becoming apparent that those nowadays who speak of impending (and even presently occurring) judgment will experience the same treatment—by both civic and religious leaders (Jeremiah 18 & 19 address both groups of people).  Although ancient Israel had a rich and miraculous heritage, they forsook their Creator and profaned the land by pursuing idolatry and making offerings to other “gods”; they also filled the land “with the blood of innocents” (Jeremiah 19:4).  There are striking similarities between the spiritual condition of Israel when they encountered devastation and captivity, and the moral climate in the United States today; and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christians to express their belief in biblical morality or their faith in the Savior without vilification and derision.

Sometimes it is easy for us to forget that we are engaged in a spiritual battle, one that we are to fight by standing, “having girded your waist with truth” (Ephesians 6:14), and by faith (1 John 5:4).  Yet when the enemy attempts to silence Christians with intimidation and compromise, I am inclined to, as James and John hoped to do, “command fire to come down from heaven” to consume those who are antagonistic towards believers and to the gospel—Jesus’ response to their request, of course, was, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:54, 55).

It is essential that our attitudes and our conduct in the midst of a hostile environment reflect that of our Savior, who came to save lives, who took on the role of a servant, and whose commandment is to love others.  The apostle Peter has much to say about conduct:  “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct”.  And, “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed” (1 Peter 1:13-15 and 1 Peter 3:15, 16).

God’s counsel to King Solomon at the dedication of the temple came in the context climate change and devastation—and while many blame global warming and its causes for the increase of natural disasters, these words are essential to consider for at the heart of them is the hope for our nation:  “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:13, 14).

This is not a Christian nation, yet praying Christians can effect change in our country—on our knees.