Morality – What is it and why is it so important?

Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary stated: “The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. . . All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”

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Gouverneur Morris, Penman and Signer of the Constitution:  “[F]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. [T]herefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.”

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Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence: “[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

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Continental Congress, 1778: “Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty and happiness . . . it is hereby earnestly recommended to the several States to take the most effectual measures for the encouragement thereof.”

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As I read the Bible I learn in Psalms how wonderfully I am made. You can take any part of your body and study it and see this great truth. But, what I think is so amazing is the way God made the body to heal itself. I am not a doctor nor do I have the knowledge of the human body to teach anatomy, but I do know that God designed us to heal our selves, and with the use of our white blood cells. It is these cells that attack any infection that comes into my body. They have the power to know where and what has been infected and it goes after it to remove it. When the body cannot fight the infection any longer – the body dies.

I learned that, “Although your white blood cells account for only about 1 percent of your blood, their impact is significant. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are essential for good health and protection against illness and disease. Think of white blood cells as your immunity cells. In a sense, they are continually at war. They flow through your bloodstream to battle viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders that threaten your health. When your body is in distress and a particular area is under attack, white blood cells rush in to help destroy the harmful substance and prevent illness.”

God made the earth in a similar way, like us the earth has the power to heal itself. If the earth had white cells, how would they work so that earth could heal itself from infection? The more important question is what would infection be to the earth? From what I read in the bible the infection is the sin of mankind.

Isaiah 24:3-6 NLT “The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The Lord has spoken! The earth mourns and dries up, and the crops waste away and wither. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.”

The Scripture says the earth longs and even groans for the day when God’s children of righteousness are revealed.

Romans 8:19-22 NLT “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

Throughout history you will find that the earth has lashed out at immorality. Why was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? When places on God’s good earth become so completely immoral, the earth will attack to heal herself, as she with the threatening infectious sin in Sodom and Gomorrah. 

I used to think that God sits up in heaven and when man’s sin has made Him mad enough, He brings down judgments. I do not believe it works this way. I believe God has instilled a system of healing in the earth. When the cup of immorality is full – the earth will attack and begin its healing process. Our climate is changing dramatically, and some will say it is from pollution, but I agree with God’s Word that it is from immorality. The earth wants to be healed. Look at what is going on in the world and see where extreme wickedness has taken place and is still taking place, then look at what nature has done or is doing right now. The earth will try to remove man’s wickedness, by removing man.

Our forefathers understood the importance of righteousness and justice; the effect it has on the land as well as the people. Today our leaders have forgotten this great wisdom as they reject the truth, and have allowed immorality to take over our country. Instead of judging immorality and turning from our wicked ways, we blame objects and natural disasters. One example of how ignorant our leaders have become is how they say, “Guns kill and we need to get rid of them. Then we will see less crime and injustice.” Guns don’t kill; it is the person pulling the trigger that kills. Murder is a hate crime; hate is in the hearts of men. In the same way, we need to admit that what is making our good green earth so angry is our sinful rebellion to our Creator.

If the earth is getting ready to judge America for its immorality, what would it look like? Look at nature’s forces in the recent past with the increase of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, droughts, flooding, etc. The experts claim these are happening far more often and with greater force than ever before.

But, people blame everything else as to why the earth is changing, and refuse to admit the problems in our world are due to our wicked hearts and hatred of God. The earth will heal itself by removing what is infecting it. You mess with the earth long enough and she will have no problem eliminating you, a city, a nation, or an entire world – like in the days of Noah.

Jesus said that in the last day the sinfulness of man on the earth will be great, completely covering the earth’s surface. Why does it say in the Bible that the Lord will renew the earth? He will make her new because she has been smothered by man’s sin; her face is like the face of woman that has been tortured beyond recognition.  And, just like your body dies when your white blood cells can not stop the infection in you, the earth will also die because of the rapid increase of evil on the earth in the last days before the return of our Redeemer and King. Jesus comes and with Him comes a thousand years of rest and renewal for the earth. He will rule with an iron scepter and His everlasting kingdom will be one of peace and righteousness. He will return to strike and conquer with the armies of heaven. Talk about white blood cells!

As I mentioned before, with the “National Monument to the Forefathers,” under its statue of “morality” are the words: prophet and evangelist. Why would these two types of people be under morality? Our forefathers believed that the prophets are the ones that God sends to foretell what is coming and to expose the condition of man in the sight of God. I have been told by some very good pastors that the gift/office of prophet is no longer needed since the Bible was written. But what about the people who don’t read the Bible, or those who read it looking for what they want it to say? Could this be why our nation, and our world is in the condition it’s in? God still speaks through His prophets today and if we are wise we will listen to what they are saying about the coming judgments and God‘s Day of Judgment.

What about the evangelist? Without the changing of man’s heart there will be no change in morality. The evangelist is one who tells everyone about the saving power of Jesus Christ: The Good News!  Without the prophet and evangelist, immorality increases rapidly to infect mankind and the earth. What is the outcome of immorality? The earth will begin to attack with what we call nature. What is the answer and hope? Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit helping us to return to the truth and the love of God, and more specifically, to bring Americans back to what our forefathers believed and lived by.

According to Leviticus 18:27-28 and Jeremiah 31:36b God says there are laws of nature that He has set up, and one of them is that the earth will vomit people up when their cup of iniquity is full.

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Thomas Jefferson said: “I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labor and in our amusements. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.”

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Benjamin Franklin said, “A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.”

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We are a strange people, we use many names to try and describe who we think we are. Some of the names we use are “conservative,” “liberal,” “progressive,” “the far right,” “the far left,” “Republican,” “Democrat,” an “atheist,” a “believer,” and so on. What all of this actually means is that we have no idea who we are!

Not one of these groups can tell us anything about our future, and yet we follow them as though they have all the answers. They all think they have a plan that will work and solve the problems we face today, but when their plan is unveiled, it fails. There response to the failure is to keep going and it will work out. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

The truth is that man has no answers for the troubles and questions of today, or tomorrow. History has shown us that we will do the same things over and over again. We just change the names and call it a new idea that will work. What we all long for but do not really want – is truth. The reason we do not want the truth is because of the cost that comes with it that most people do not want to pay for. People think “truth” will require them to give up their freedom; having and doing the things they have always had and enjoyed. Therefore they do not want to listen to what “truth” is really saying. Reality is that we all want joy, happiness, health, to love and be loved, to have a peaceful life, to know that what we do matters, and to be remembered. All this comes from God; it’s His will for mankind, but it comes through His Son only.

Truth is simply this: Jesus came and died for our sins so that we might live in Him. It is only in Him can we find joy, happiness, health, love, peace, and to know that my life accounted for something noble and honorable in God’s sight. Being remembered will not be important in this world but will be in eternity; for it is what we do on this earth that determines our eternity.

Listen today and see if you hear man or truth speaking. Their messages are very different.

Man’s message: The poor will always have their hopes crushed. Man brags about their ways and desires, it praises the greedy and corrupt, and then curses God and attacks godliness and righteousness. They are too proud to seek God. In their minds God is not real or if they believe he is real – he’s not personal or involved. Man thinks he can come up with a full-proof plan to be free of trouble forever! He thinks, God will never call him to account. Man’s wisdom behind his helpful systems is to capture you with empty promises of philosophies that are nothing more than nonsense that come from the spiritual powers in control of this world, rather than from God. Their sinful rebellion has made them dangerously proud. Their laws and rules seem wise, but are all based upon a fallacy that man can solve his own problems. The truth is that since man will not listen to God, they must drink from His cup of anger. Man may say he will refuse to accept this cup, but truth says, “You will; you have no choice but to drink from it.”

Truth’s message: The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble for all who trust Him at His word; for He will not abandon anyone who searches for Him. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer. He speaks to them through their suffering to draw them into His love and protection. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and life eternal.

So let your lives be built on The Lord Jesus Christ; the solid foundation and Rock of faith. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Man’s message will lead you to destruction. The message of truth will lead you to the abundant life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Son, how foolish the people are today. They think the prayers and covenant their forefathers made do not apply to them. They must remember that it is better to never make a vow or covenant with Me than to make one and then break it. For I hold every generation to the covenant I made by your founding forefathers. They think they can break the covenant by saying that there never was one. But they are wrong. Now listen to what their first President asked of Me.

“My first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads. Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: ‘Use power to help people.’ For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord. The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us; so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways… that all peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” (George Washington)

“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” (George Washington)

Son, tell My children to watch out for those leaders who do evil. What sorrow awaits these leaders for they have destroyed and taken away all hope from the very ones they were expected to care for. Instead of caring and leading them to safety, they have deserted them. Therefore, your land is now under a curse, and is in mourning because your leaders have abused what power they have.

My heart is broken because of these smooth-tongued leaders. They abuse their authority and turn My words upside down. Have any of these leaders even been in My presence to hear what I am saying? NO! They don’t care enough to listen to Me! If they had stood before Me to listen they would have understood My words, and would have turned people from their evil ways. Do they think they can hide from Me when I am everywhere in all the heavens and earth? Therefore, My anger will not diminish until it has finished all I have planned. I must bring disaster upon them for they have abandoned the covenant their forefathers made with Me. In the days to come they will understand all this very clearly.

Son, whatever happens, rejoice in Me, and rely on what I have done for you. Put no confidence in human effort, and remember everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Me your Lord. You became righteous when you put your faith in Me. Therefore, stay true to Me and remember that I am coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell Me what you need, and thank Me for all I have done. Then you will experience My peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. My peace will guard your heart and mind as you live with Me.

One final thing, fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise, and then you will know how to be content with whatever you have. You will learn the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For, you can do everything through Me, who gives you your strength. This is faith; My way of making you depend on Me for everything.

Lord, when I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers – the moon and the stars that You set in place – who am I that You should think about me the way You do? You made me and care for me. You crowned me with Your glory and honor, and I don’t deserve it. Thank You for seeing me through Your Son.   

Son, your leaders have violated the nation’s covenant with Me, and have built injustice into its walls. They have eyes only for power, greed and dishonesty! They murder innocent children, oppress the poor and reign ruthlessly! I have warned them over and over again. So hold firmly to My word of life. For it will help you to do what is just, and right! My word reveals injustice and evil deeds.

America’s leaders have refused to pay attention to My warning, and they think that I cannot touch them or break into their plans and activities. I have become very angry and furious. They believe their own lies and pay no attention to My word or My warnings. Therefore, I swear by My own Name, that I will personally fight against them, and the record will show that they are failures. The covenant their forefathers made with Me, I will personally hold them accountable for breaking, for these righteous men vowed and proclaimed:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”

Son, tell My children that in living under these evil leaders they must be humble so I can lift them up into position for the good of others. They must have My attitude, and remember that very soon every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that I am Lord. When My children have My attitude it will be a sign to these leaders that they are going to be destroyed.

My children must know that when they were given the privilege of trusting in Me – they are also given the privilege to suffer for Me. My children must not be selfish and try to impress these leaders. They must not compromise. Remember that I began a good work within you, and it will continue until it is finally finished on the day when I return. I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation, and as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Me. Everyone will know that My children are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News about Me. So don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies.

Lord, I pray to no one but You. Listen to my voice in the morning, yes each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly. Lead me on the right path.

While reading the book of Jeremiah I questioned why He would write such a statement as; “Why didn’t God kill me at birth? Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb; that her body had been my grave! Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.” The message of Jeremiah is one that people do not want to hear. It is a message that people, no matter who they are, will be held accountable for the choices they make, and no one wants to hear this.

Now ask yourself what would be your response today if God said, “‘America has forsaken Me and turned this country into a place of wickedness. They have filled this land with the blood of innocent children. I will make it a monument to their stupidity. All who pass through will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. People will be driven to utter despair; shattered beyond all hope of repair because they have stubbornly refused to listen to Me.”  Would you say, “We are God’s children, and therefore none of these things will come on us. God would have to remove us first because He would never send judgment on us as well.” Really?

Like Jeremiah said, “People have told me never to speak of judgment. But, if I keep silent it will burn in my heart like a fire; like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”

Son, don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, as if they didn’t know. Tell My children that they must not participate in the things these people do. For once My children were full of darkness, but now they have My light. So they must live in My light! They must not take part in the worthless deeds of evil darkness; instead, expose them. They must be careful how they live. They must make the most of every opportunity. Tell them that they must not act thoughtlessly, but understand what I want them to do. Remember that your fight is not against flesh-and-blood, but against authorities of the dark unseen world, against mighty powers of evil spirits. So tell My children to stand their ground, putting on the belt of truth and the armor of My righteousness. Then pray in the Spirit all the time and on every occasion. Be alert and be persistent in prayer. Pray for the right words so that they can boldly explain My plan.

Lord, thank You for watching over me and instructing me. You alone will keep me safe. You stand beside me like a great warrior. Before You my accusers will stumble; they cannot defeat me. I will live my life in Your love, and follow Your example.

Son, tell your grandchildren, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember to tell them that someday soon they will have to give an account to Me for everything they do. They must not let the excitement of youth cause them to forget Me, their Creator. They must honor Me in their youth.

Tell your grandchildren that the leaders today have left them a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless things. So your grandchildren must choose to let Me make My home in their hearts, and learn to trust Me. Then their roots will grow deep into My love and keep them strong. They will have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep My love is for them. When they experience My love, they will fully understand that it is My mighty power at work in them. When they experience My power in their lives they will know that they can accomplish infinitely more than they think. So I challenge your grandchildren to lead a life worthy of their calling. To be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. Making allowance for other’s faults because of My love. Make every effort to keep united in My Spirit, binding themselves together with peace.

Son, tell your children it is their responsibility to equip your grandchildren to do My work and build up My church. When your grandchildren are taught the truth they will become mature, and not be blown about by every wind of new teaching. They will not be influenced when people try to trick them with lies so clever they sound like the truth. When your grandchildren know the truth that comes from Me, they will throw off their sinful nature; which is corrupted by lust and deception. They will know the power of My Spirit that will renew their minds, and change their attitudes. So tell your children to stop letting anger control them and watch their tongues. Tell them they must not let the sun go down while they are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. they must not use foul or abusive language. Let everything they say be good and helpful, so that their words will be an encouragement to their children who are listening to them.

Son, when you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. You must influence people for Me. Do not let them influence you! People will fight against you, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you.

Lord, Your words are like cattle prods, painful but helpful. When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your Name. You are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Therefore, I can now come boldly and confidently into Your presence because You empower me with inner peace and strength through Your Spirit.

THE COST OF FREEDOM

Jacob and his children went to Egypt because a famine broke out in the land and while in Egypt they were given the best of everything that Egypt had to offer. But, after many generations the Israelites had become slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt. What happened that would make a free people, as they were at first, turn into slaves?

Slavery starts when we change our thinking. When you no longer look or depend on God, but look and depend on others to meet your needs. God always works through His people, as He did with Joseph when his father Jacob called on the Lord in his time of need. God led Jacob and his sons to Egypt where He had set up Joseph to meet their needs.

We must never substitute God for His ‘vessel’ of provision. When we depend on His vessels, we are not trusting in God but man. Vessels give out and break, but God remains the same.

Eventually the kindness and honor Israel was shown by the Pharaoh because of Joseph, gave out when Joseph died and a new Pharaoh came in. The journey to becoming slaves is slow and very subtle, and will spread like a disease. The Israelites went into slavery because they continued to depend on man instead of God.

The question I have for the Church is: What is our government giving to the churches that has made them dependent upon our government? What about their non-profit corporation status? If the church does not adhere to the conditions of the government they have the power to remove it from them and make them pay taxes on all the money that comes in. Does the loss of tax exemption bring fear to our church leaders? Do they think people will stop giving and fear how this could affect paychecks, programs and buildings if people are not given these tax deductions?

When someone or something can control how you think and live then you have become their slave. Their control over you is nothing more than intimidation to make you fearful. They want you to believe that they have the power to take back anything they have given you, or to re-distribute it the way they want in ways you do not have to agree with.

The power they have over you is like a person who sells drugs; the drug addict will do anything to have their drugs keep coming. The drug addict no longer knows how to live without drugs. He is enslaved.

Becoming a slave takes generations until the children born into slavery don’t know anything different. For the children of Israel it took the death of the ones that knew freedom. For people to accept slavery depends on how long it takes for those who keep freedom alive – to die out. Here in America we have freedom-fighters working against the government programs that are slowly enslaving us by making us dependent on them for all our needs. After the freedom-fighters are gone – who will carry on in their place and fight for American liberty? Whose responsibility is this, if not the Church?  

The road to freedom requires you to look to God and not to man for all your needs. This road out of slavery is long and it will cost you. At times it will feel like a dry desert, but this is to teach us to call on the Lord for everything because our whole life is dependent upon Him.

Our forefathers knew slavery in England and came to this land to start a new life of liberty and dependency on God. They knew that eventually the threat of slavery would come again, so they made a monument to show us how to ward it off, and even come back and be a free people again. It is the “National Monument to the Forefathers.” Here are the words that are at the bottom of each statue on the monument, there are 5 statues.

The steps to freedom and how to stay a free people:

1. FAITH: in God alone. His written word is absolute truth.

2. MORALITY: you cannot have morality (godliness) without God and His truth. With morality come the prophet and evangelist to reveal immorality (wickedness).

3. LAW: following the laws of God, not the laws of man. With God’s laws come justice and mercy. Without God’s law you will have confusion, not knowing right from wrong.

4. EDUCATION: to teach the next generation the words and wisdom of God. Learning starts in the family unit with the parents and grandparents teaching their children.

5. LIBERTY: willing to fight tyranny to preserve liberty; knowing that peace comes out of liberty.

The road of liberty (freedom) starts with faith in the Word of God. The end result is peace. What is this world looking for and working towards? Peace! But, our leaders are going about it in the wrong way; they have shut God out and have begun to persecute those who teach and preach the Word of God.  Their way enslaves people. Jesus said, “The truth shall set you free!”  So what is the truth? It is every word that comes from the mouth of God, our CREATOR. Freedom requires us to stop depending on what our government says and go to God’s Word for how to think and live our lives.

History has shown us that in order to make a nation of slaves it will only take 3 generations of twisting the truth and pumping lies into the people. Every generation of Christians is responsible to keep God’s truth alive and public by first living it out personally and then going public with it. 

The people who walk this road of freedom with the Lord will be men and women who will take on the intimidating giants; they will be over-comers. They will turn this world upside down for Jesus Christ who first started the freedom revolution with 12 faithful men. Our forefathers were freedom fighters, but over the generations we have seen a subtle cowering because of wanting temporal things more than eternal things. 

What will the New Year of 2014 be like for you, and for our nation? Will you walk the road of freedom and see that your life is not based upon the things of this world? Ask yourself: Am I a slave or a freeman? The truth is that we are all slaves until we make Jesus Christ our Lord and Master. Since it is in our nature to be slaves, let us be a slave to the One who gave up His life so that we could live the life of true love and liberty; and have eternal life. Let us serve a Master like Him; one who works to defend and protect those who are defenseless, weak and tyrannized.

The road of freedom is a very narrow road; too narrow for most. It will require us to come out of dependency on worldly systems, and to depend upon God for everything. The power of God’s freedom is that with Him all things are possible for those who believe. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

The monument our forefathers built in Plymouth Massachusetts is a 150 feet tall. It faces northeast to Plymouth Harbor and sits in the center of a circular drive, which is accessed from Allerton Street from the east. The principal pedestal is octagonal with four small and four large faces.

From the small faces project four buttresses. On the main pedestal stands the heroic figure of “Faith” with her right hand pointing towards heaven and her left hand clutching the Bible. Upon the four buttresses also are seated figures emblematical of the principles upon which the Pilgrims founded their Commonwealth, each having a symbol referring to the Bible that “Faith” possesses (in hand). Counter-clockwise from the feet of “Faith” are Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty. Each was carved from a solid block of granite, posed in the sitting position upon chairs with a high relief on either side of minor characteristics. Under “Morality” stand “Prophet” and “Evangelist.” Under “Law” stand “Justice” and “Mercy.” Under “Education” stand “Youth”  (a child holding his mother’s hand and looking up to her) and “Wisdom.” Under “Liberty” stand “Tyranny Overthrown” (this man of victory holds a broken chain in one hand and over his shoulder is a lion’s skin and head of which he killed) and under it also stands “Peace.”

Upon the four faces of the main pedestal are large panels of records. The front panel is inscribed as follows: “National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty.” The right and left panels contain the names of those who came over in the Mayflower. The rear panel, which was not engraved until recently, contains a quote from Governor William Bradford’s famous history, of Plymouth Plantation:

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise.”

What will it be freedom or slavery? The choice is ours. Remember, our future is as a bright as the promises of God!

“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”  (Quote from Gerald R. Ford)

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” (Quote from Ronald Reagan)

“The Bible is the rock on which this Republic rests.” (Quote from Andrew Jackson)

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” (Quote from Abraham Lincoln)

“Never, never, never give up.” (Quote from Winston Churchill)

Here’s the link I used on the “monument:”

http://historicaldigression.com/2012/01/31/forefathers-monument-in-plymouth-an-overlooked-colossus/

Son, have you seen how fickle your country has become? They are proud that they worship other gods, but this has only polluted their land and made them weak and vulnerable to their enemies. They have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten Me. Everything I blessed them with has been squandered. They have become stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do what is right! Therefore, the earth will mourn and the heavens will be draped in black because of My decree. I have made up my mind and will not change it.

Tell these faithless people to come back to Me, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with them forever if they acknowledge their guilt; that they have rebelled against Me and committed adultery by worshiping false gods. If they confess that they have refused to listen to My voice, I will give them shepherds after My own heart to guide them with knowledge and understanding, so that the disobedient are turned to the wisdom of the righteous. I would love to treat them as My own children! I want nothing more than to give them back their beautiful land, the finest possession in the world. Then they would be a blessing to all the nations of the world, and people would come and praise My name for it. I long for them to call Me “Father.” It is My desire that they never to turn from Me again.  So pray and confess, plow up the hard ground of your hearts. Surrender your pride as a nation before the waves of destruction come!

Son, when the godly are in authority the people will rejoice. But when the wicked are in power the people groan, and sin flourishes. People do not accept My guidance because they would rather run wild.They see themselves as pure but they are filthy and unwashed. Therefore, although they have sight they are blind. They have ears to hear, but they do not understand what is lacking in them. They look at others proudly, casting disdainful glances at those who truthfully say that what they do – is wrong and destructive. They compare themselves with each other, using their own wickedness as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! The wicked despise the godly, but keep godliness before them as a sign reminding them of who I am and that wickedness will not prevail where I have My presence

Lord, because I meet with You and speak with You each day that place is holy by Your glorious presence. It is a high place with You; one that burns with passion – well guarded. I must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, that are being crushed by the oppression of wicked leaders. You have repeatedly told me that You will provide all I need, and that I will always have plenty left over to share with others. I must use Your mighty weapons to knock down their strongholds of human reasoning so that Your wisdom is proved right by my actions. Then their false arguments will fall to the ground having no power. Every word of Yours is true. You are a shield to all who come to You for understanding and protection. For whoever obeys You will be joyful, and by trusting in You there is safety.

Son, before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet. You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Don’t be afraid of people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I have touched your mouth and said, “Look, I have put My words in your mouth!”

Son, has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged Me for worthless things by looking to others for help! They have turned their backs to Me! Their turning from Me should shame them, but they feel no shame. Soon they will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon Me and not to fear Me. No amount of soap or lye can make them clean before Me, for I still see the stain of their guilt. They have brought this upon themselves by rebelling against Me. When the times of trouble start they will cry out to Me, “Save us! We have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with us!” But I will punish them severely because they claim they have not sinned. Remember, worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Son, prepare for action, and tell everyone everything I tell you to say. They will fight you by saying this is not from Me, but they will fail; for I am with you and I will take care of you. Tell those who teach My word to stop ignoring Me, and telling My people that everything will be fine the way it is. That’s right, I am watching everything they do and say. I will certainly carry out all my plans against those who ignore Me. I will pronounce judgment on My people for deserting Me. They think their government, or what they have made with their own hands, will save them.  How foolish!

Remember that when there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. So tell My children to elect wise and just leaders who search for Me, and listen to Me, and they will bring stability into the nation. Those leaders who lead people along an evil path will only fall and suffer by their own evil doing. Your rich people think they are wise because they are rich, but a person with discernment, even though poor, can see right through them. When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.  Greed causes fighting and disunity, but trusting Me leads to peace and prosperity. Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in My wisdom will be safe and sound.

Lord, because you have told us what is coming, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Let us work toward complete holiness because we fear You. You are the one who encourages those who are discouraged. When times of testing come we must realize that in these times we will be filled with abundant joy and Your rich generosity, as long as we keep our hope in You.