The name Patrick Henry is not a new one to most of us, but I’m afraid that our children and grandchildren may know nothing about him. He was a famous statesman and orator of colonial Virginia. In 1764 he was elected to the House of Burgesses where he became a champion of the frontier people, supporting their rights against the arrogant exercise of power by the aristocracy.
In 1774 he was a delegate to the First Continental Congress. In 1775, before the Virginia Provincial Convention, which was deeply divided between those who supported England and those who desired freedom, he uttered his most famous words, ‘Give me liberty or give me death!’
During the Revolutionary War he became commander-in-chief of Virginia’s military forces, a member of the Second Continental Congress, helped to draw up the first constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and was largely responsible for drawing up the amendments to our Constitution known as the Bill of Rights.
He became Virginia’s first governor and was re-elected 4 times. Then he retired from public life, but despite his strong objections the people went ahead and re-elected him Governor for a fifth time. But he meant what he said, so he refused to take the office.
He was offered a seat in the U.S. Senate, and posts as ambassador to Spain and to France. President George Washington asked him to join his cabinet and become Secretary of State, and later wanted to appoint him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But he refused all such honors and recognition.
Now why do I mention these things about Patrick Henry? It is because I want you to realize that he was an important and respected leader and patriot in those days when our nation came into being. Wouldn’t you agree that he might be somebody worth listening to? Well, with that in mind, consider seriously these words from him: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians – not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.
As we approach July 4th let’s commit to praying harder for America. We are not drifting away from Jesus like has been the case for decades; our country is running away from Him. Many of the idiots voted into office by America are seeking to lead our country as far away from God as possible. We need to pray for their salvation, for God to shake Washington, D.C. with His revival and to help us to be more in tune with Him when we enter the voting booths. There are too few godly statesmen and too few patriots these days leading our country. Is it too late to turn the tide? As long as God doesn’t completely give up on America there is hope. Let’s commit to praying for America daily.
Patrick Henry’s last will and testament was filed in the Brookneal County courthouse in Virginia. He bequeathed everything to his children, just as most people do. But the last paragraph in his will is especially interesting. He wrote, ‘I have now given everything I own to my children. There is one more thing I wish I could give them and that is Christ. Because if they have everything I gave them and don’t have Christ, they have nothing.’
Our nation is moving away from Christ and that should concern us more than it does. Yet here is the key question: “Is your family moving toward Christ?” There is no middle ground. We are either moving the members of our family closer to the Lord OR we are moving them away from Him. There is no greater thing we can do for our spouse, children, and grandchildren then to do our best to lead them closer to Jesus. If we’re not doing that, then maybe that explains America’s move away from the Lord.
Onward Christian Soldiers,
Pastor Steve