It is not our God you do not understand. It is our lives you do not understand—our failure to conform to our professed teachings.”
–Zane Grey (Captive of the Desert)
“That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
–Psalm 78:7-8 (NKJV)
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“Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!”
–F.W. Faber
There is so much disregard for our heritage today. I was talking with a former history teacher who informed me that many universities are dropping history courses. Students are no longer taking up history as a major. Give us a generation and what will be our history? It used to be that our fight was with the revisionists, but if history disappears anything can be made up. We are seeing that already beginning to happen.
“Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word.”
Oh, Lord, help us not to forget! Despite who Senator Warren says is the backbone of our country is/was, don’t let us be duped by that foolish rhetoric. We need to remember, not only the famous–men such as Washington, Henry, Hamilton and others–but also, those men of faith who came to America to worship freely. Men who withstood the persecution and braved the onslaught of making a life in a new world.
“Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
Remember men like John Bunyan, William Tyndale, and the Reformers. Men who faced prison, some faced death but would not bow to their tormentors. They stood, as the Apostle proclaimed, and after having done all continued to stand. The Word of God would continue to go forward, but it would go in the hearts of men. It would go to a New World, then from there missionaries would begin to take it throughout the world. Men such as William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Morris Plotts, and thousands of others. Their faith should help us to stand in the dark hours of our lives.
“Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life!”
Virtue! My what is that? The world is telling us today that right is wrong and wrong is right. Those who are truly virtuous are considered by modern society to be intolerant. God loves all people, which is true. God honors all ways to Him, which is a lie from the pit. What will get you through this life, through the storms, battles, toils and troubles? Faith! What will bring you to Jesus Christ? Faith! How is one saved by grace? Through faith! Did our fathers of faith have faults? Yes, but look beyond the faults and see the stalwart heart; those who worked, journeyed, toiled, gave sweat and blood. Look at the faith of our fathers!
“Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!”
Take to heart the faith of our fathers. This Thanksgiving take time to thank the Lord for those who went before on the road to glory.