Coordinator
Conway Area First Friday Day of Prayer and Patriotism
Had someone living during America’s 18th century colonial period been asked, “Are you familiar with the meaning of ‘divine providence’”, most likely the vast majority would have said, “Absolutely!” Had the same question been asked of someone living during our nation’s 19th century, their answer most likely would have been similar, “I believe so.” Had the same question been asked of someone living during America’s 20th century, their answer most likely would have been, “I’m not sure; I’ve read about it somewhere in my high school history class, but I really couldn’t tell you what it is.” Again, ask the same question to someone living today in our 21st century, most likely they would look at you with a blank look and respond with, “No, I’m not familiar at all with ‘divine providence’. What is it?”
The main point to be made here is the fact that as Americans’ understanding of divine providence has been gradually lost, which means that our nation has not only lost a priceless treasure, but our ignorance has made us vulnerable to many needless problems with serious consequences that threaten to destroy us as a nation. Given the fact that we as a nation are facing the greatest crisis in our history, I believe it’s imperative that we give “divine providence” its due consideration and to do so by answering three questions: First, what is “divine providence”? Second, how has “divine providence” played a prominent role in our nation’s history and preservation of liberty? Third, what should be our response to the reality of “divine providence”?
With that as an introduction to the subject, let me seek to answer the first question: What is “divine providence”? The only accurate answer to this question will come from one of two sources. Either the answers will come from God or the answer will come from man. Which is the most reliable source? The Psalmist in Psalm 118:8 gives us the answer: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” It was America’s Founding Fathers’ trust in the Lord (i.e., “divine providence”) that gave us our Freedom documents and government – Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights – and in so doing, gave us a nation of freedom, prosperity, and peace.
Thus, wisdom dictates that we define “divine providence” from God’s perspective as it’s set forth in the Holy Bible, which has been historically, the most influential guidebook for shaping American government, law, education, free enterprise, ownership of private property as well as every aspect of daily life. This has been true because the Bible is the story of God and His plan through time and eternity. Stating the same truth differently, the Bible tells us what we are to know about God and what duty God requires of man.
The opening words of the Bible are found in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” As one continues to read the first eleven chapters of the Bible, it becomes clear that God does have a definite plan (sometimes referred to theologically as “decrees”). God works out His plan in two ways: through Creation and through Providence. To use a human illustration, God’s plan is like an architect drawing up the blueprint for the construction of a particular house, then gathering the materials for its construction, and using those materials to construct the house according to the blueprint. So, the Bible teaches us that God is not only the Creator, but He is also the Sustainer of all that He has created. Biblical religion is not deism, which acknowledges God as the Creator, but much like a clockmaker would make a clock, winds it up and then lets the clock run independently of its maker. Biblical religion reveals God not only to be the Creator of all things, but He continues to act in His creation to preserve it and to direct it to His ends (Genesis 1:1-2:3; Ephesians 1:11).
This was the commonly held view and understanding throughout human history up until the second half of the 19th Century when the authority and trustworthiness of the Bible came under attack by those who believed “THE LIE” of humanism: that man does not need to depend upon God, but can decide for himself what’s good and what’s evil (cf. Genesis 3:1-5).
I conclude this first of three articles on this subject of “divine providence” with Noah Webster’s definition:
“3. In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over His creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies providence, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence, but deny a particular providence, not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence, is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God Himself” (American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828).
One final word: Unless and until we who call ourselves patriots recover the “forgotten treasure of divine providence”, our once-great nation called America will continue down the same path to destruction as did those nations before it, be it the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks or the Romans.
To be continued
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