CHAPTER TWELVE

HOPE FOR AMERICA

he book of Jonah tells the gloomy story of an extremely wicked city and of a preacher who wasn’t much of a man. Nineveh was so corrupt that God was making plans to bring it to complete destruction. In this book, chapter one tells the story of Jonah running away from God. Chapter two tells of his slimy home inside of a great fish. Chapter three tells of his pronouncing God’s judgment on Nineveh. And chapter four tells of Jonah’s disappointment when God refused to annihilate the city.

Though this book tells the story of rebellion and extreme wickedness, it provides a ray of hope for America. The story of Jonah shows us that evil nations need not be destroyed. There is a better way - and that way is the way of repentance. Repentance will save a nation. Notice the words recorded in 2 Chron 7:13 &14. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 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” (NIV).

We need also to notice that it took only one man to save the whole city of Nineveh. Just one man.

Perhaps you have heard the following poem.

 FOR THE WANT OF A NAIL

For the want a of nail a horseshoe was lost.

For the want of a horseshoe a rider was lost.

For the want of a rider a message was lost.

For the want of a message a battle was lost.

For the want of a battle the war was lost.

For the want of a war a nation was lost.

All for the want of a horseshoe nail!

Author unknown

What a difference one little nail can make!

Jesus taught us that we are the salt of the earth. It doesn’t take much salt to change a tasteless dinner into a tasty meal. But it does take some. What a difference a tiny amount of salt can make.

In the early days of our country, Thomas Jefferson was the only President who did not claim to be a Christian. He opened the flood gate that has ultimately robbed our country of so many of our religious freedoms. Did you know that Jefferson was elected by only one vote?

Did you know that Hitler won leadership of the German Nazi party by only one vote? Think of the millions of lives that could have been saved if just one more person had taken the time to vote.

God declared through Ezekiel that He was going to destroy a nation because of the lack of one man. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD” (Ezek 22:30-31 NIV).

Esther was one woman who was courageous enough to stand in the gap. She realized that she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. She took her courageous stand and she saved her people (Est. 4:14).

Telemockis was one man who was courageous enough to stand in the gap. Telemockis lived about 400 A.D. in the city of Rome. One day, the people of that city were very excited because there was going to be a special gladiator contest in the coliseum. Telemockis heard the snarling of the wild animals. He heard the cries of those who were about to be put to death and he saw the gladiators. He heard the clatter of their armor as they marched up before Caesar and he heard the familiar salute, “Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you.” Then Telemockis began to watch the shameful spectacle of animals devouring people, and people slaughtering each other in the name of entertainment. In one gladiator fight two champions who were set against each other to fight to the death. As Telemockis watched, he felt a compulsion to do something. Slowly, he came to his feet and began to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear (abstain, refrain from).” There were, that day, about 50,000 people in the coliseum and most everyone was shouting and rooting for their favorite gladiator. It’s doubtful that very many really heard Telemockis when he first stood up. As the two gladiators tried with all their might to kill each other, Telemockis started walking up and down the aisles, and as he did he kept repeating, in ever increasing tones, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear!” Finally, he got down to the wall that separated the arena from the seats, crawled over the wall and lowered himself down into the arena. He went out to where the two men were fighting and shouted, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear!” The men were startled and stopped fighting. They didn't seem to know what to do. A hush fell over the coliseum. One of the gladiators then seemingly regaining his senses and took the flat side of his spear and slapped it across the side of the old man’s face. Telemockis was knocked to the ground, and the gladiators started to fight again. Telemockis shook his head and slowly pulled himself to his feet. He rushed in between the two gladiators and again shouting, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear!” Once again the gladiators paused. A hush again fell over the coliseum. Some one from the audience yelled, “Run him through!” Then one of the gladiators took his sword and ran it through old Telemockis. When the gladiator drew the sword out it was crimson red. Telemockis dropped to the ground. He was silenced forever, he was dead.

A hush again fell over the coliseum. Stunned by what they had seen people began to come to their feet and slowly turn and leave. Fifty thousand people walked out and that was the very last time there was any human combat in that coliseum.

The gladiator fights were stopped by one man! A man who was willing to place his convictions before his comfort. Telemockis never know how successful he was. He was willing to die for what he believed was right even though he had no guarantee of victory.[1]

On March 31, 1774, the British army closed the most important seaport in America and brought the city of Boston to its knees. When news of this event reached the ears of the people in the colonies, stunned outrage swept across America! North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia immediately responded by sending both money and food to keep their fellow Americans sustained. William Prescott, a leader in Massachusetts, wrote the people of Boston:

“We heartily sympathize with you, and are always ready to do all in our power for your support...knowing that Providence has placed you where you must stand the first shock. We consider that we are... (in the same boat) and must sink or swim together. We think that if we submit to these regulations, all is gone. Our forefathers passed the vast Atlantic, spent their blood and treasure, that they might enjoy their liberties, both civil and religious, and transmit them to their posterity. Their children have waded through seas of difficulty, to leave us free and happy in the enjoyment of English privileges. Now if we should give them up, can our children raise up and call us blessed?...Let us all be of one heart, and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. And may He, of His infinite mercy, grant us deliverance out of all our troubles.”

On July 4, 1776, fifty-six representatives from the thirteen colonies met together, and signed a document which listed 27 ways that the King of England had demonstrated unjust cruelty upon them. The document concluded with... “We, therefore,...declare, that these United Colonies are...free and independent states... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor’.

As Prescott said, “The men who shaped America waded through seas of difficulty, to leave us free and happy. How can our children call us blessed if we give up the freedoms that others suffered so severally to obtain?” Our leaders knew that it was their  duty to throw off any government that would take away the right of its citizens to have LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

It’s time that we, who live in the 21st Century, blend our voices with the heroes of the past. We need to pledge with them, and to each other, our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor. We need to pledge our total support to the regaining of the freedom of religion that we have so carelessly tossed aside.

Will you be the one that will stand in the gap and save America?

Someone once asked, “What on earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake?” I would like to ask that you carefully consider the following questions.

·        Do you regularly attend prayer meetings?

·        Do you pray daily for our country, its leaders and a restoration to our First Amendment freedoms?

·        Are you contributing financially to efforts to save America?

·        Are you writing your political representatives?

·        Have you written a letter to your newspaper editor?

·        Are you willing to march for freedom if you are given the opportunity?

·        Do you vote?

·        Are you teaching your children about their godly roots?

Help your author realize his dream of placing this book into the hands of all 538 congressmen. This book may be purchased at $9.95[2] plus $1.50 shipping and handling charge and appropriate tax if purchased in the state of Illinois. A gift of $10.00 to this ministry will place one book in the hand of a congressman. Fifty dollars will place 5 books. If you would like to purchase a book or make a donation, please make checks payable to the Childs Family Publications and send requests to Childs Family Publications at the copyright address shown in the front of this volume. Be sure to note on the check “Books for Congressman” if your donation is for this purpose.

What Made America Great?

What's so Great About America?

What Made America Great?
Chapter 3

The Persecution

The Dream for Freedom

Men Who Shaped America

Separation of Church and State

The Fall of America

The Cost of Freedom

A Warning to America

The Collapse of America

Hope for America

Appendix What Made America Great?