250

Today these United States of America celebrate 250 years of sovereign union.

The founders wondered immediately how long the union might hold, and the union has certainly been severely tested. With 50 states and millions of people and various climes and challenges, it is a wobbly thing. But here we stand, 250 years old.

“God bless America land that I love”

When I think of the 4th of July, I think of the 4th of JOO-lie in South Carolina. We often traveled to see my grandparents on the 4th. Down I-40 to 26, through mountains and tunnels, Asheville and Spartanburg and into Clinton (Clin’on), and on to smaller and smaller backroads, to our little mill town.

I remember family and fireworks, hash and barbecue, corn on the cob and homemade ice cream. My grandfather would light and hold in hand Roman Candles as they shot their fomping rounds, us all watching safely away on the back patio.

“God bless America, my home, sweet home.”

The idea of homeland is a precious one. There is no place like home, and there is no place like your homeland.

The old Apostle Paul said God himself had a hand in the drawing of these lines and in where we landed between them (Acts 17). I don’t take Paul to mean God approves of all the nations have done, but only that their movements and machinations are still within his control. And where we were born (and that we were born) – topics beyond our choice – find their genesis in God. So we thank God for our homelands, for our times and seasons and allotments.

“Stand beside her and guide her.”

The Christian claims dual citizenship and a higher citizenship. Our citizenship is in Heaven even as we live as citizens on earth. We seek a better homeland even as we journey through our earthly homeland. Yet we honor our heavenly citizenship by being good earthly citizens, being good neighbors. We pray for our leaders. We give honor where honor is due. We render unto Caesar. We submit to the emperor where we can. We work hard as unto the Lord. We may, in a sense, even set as our goal to seek the prosperity of the country, as we seek first the Kingdom.

“God bless America, my home, sweet home.”

So on its 250th birthday, I say thank you, Lord, for my home, for our home, for the United States of America, and I pray that God would bless America with wisdom from above and the light of the Gospel, that more people might know him and love him and follow him and enjoy him, forever. Amen.