In a recent article Brother Wayne Jackson, proprietor of the Christian Courier web site, opined that the national security of any nation is not determined by spy systems or nuclear weapons. He observes from Daniel 4:17 that “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will”. What anchors and protects a nation, Brother Jackson reasons, is righteousness both personal and national.  

Solomon declared that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Therefore, when the sin outpaces a nation’s righteousness God may bring that nation to an end. Brother Jackson provides the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s decision to destroy those cities for their “very grievous sin” (Genesis 18:20).  In Jonah 1:2 God declared of the city of Nineveh, “Their wickedness has is come up before me”, and planned to destroy the city in forty days. Had they not repented at the preaching of Jonah, destruction would have been sure and certain.

In light of such examples Brother Jackson ponders “Have we, the United States, over the past two centuries become a better country or are we rapidly deteriorating”? He offers this quote from founding father Daniel Webster to illustrate where we as a nation used to be “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible our country will go on prospering, but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury us and our glory in profound obscurity”.

“How tragic it is”, Brother Jackson laments “To a great extent the citizenry of America have renounced this philosophy with reckless abandon”. To stem the tide of this apostasy Brother Jackson prescribes that we each commit ourselves to a life of godliness, bind our families with the Word of God and teach firmly against the evils that plague our modern culture. The collective righteousness of the Lord’s church will go a long way toward preserving our National Security.