Their Finest Hour
by Tom Wacaster
"Change"! How many times have you heard that word in your lifetime? The number is incalculable! The hippies of the 60's clamored for change! And so America cast off the sexual morals of a previous generation and gave us the change that the baby boomers sought. The seeds of ungodliness were sown in the minds of a new generation via movies, rock music, and the "rap" mentality, and the harvest is now coming to fruition: increased abortion on demand, legitimized homosexual relationships, and a more "open" and permissive standard for language and content in movies and music. Character traits such as "responsibility," "integrity," "honesty," and "trustworthiness" are almost foreign to the younger generation, as well as the leaders of our political electorate in Washington. Slowly at first, but with increasing momentum, the fabric of our society is crumbling – we are dying within! America is "broken" and it does not appear that anyone knows how to "fix" it! All we know is that there must be some kind of "change" to get us on the "right track." Prior to our last Presidential election the American public, to the tune of 60+%, thought that the country was on the wrong track – heading in the wrong direction politically, financially, and even morally. On November 2nd 2008 we went to the polls and we voted for "change." Hopes were high, and there was an air of optimism as voters vented their frustration with the status quo. Less than 20 months later, disappointment has set in, and the only "change" we have seen is for the worse: an unbelievable rise in national deficits and debt, promised admittance of homosexuals into the armed forces, increased abortion on demand, and an increasing antagonism toward religion in general and Christianity in particular. Personally, I do not think our country voted for this kind of "change" nineteen months ago.
What a difference a year makes! In April of 2009 a grass roots movement began to "throw the bums out," and it appears that the movement is having an impact upon incumbents and political "insiders." Perhaps the "change" we are now seeking is for the better as Americans seek a return to fiscal and moral responsibility on the part of our leaders. In a recent segment on Fox News it was reported that among the best selling items on Amazon.com are books that address our religious heritage as a nation. There is a renewed interest in matters of religion, and an increasing demand for material that seeks to address the inner man. Perhaps the Lord's church should take action and strike while the iron is hot! Let us lead the way in any new religious revival that might just now be developing. Elders, stop sitting on the massive amount of funds you have "saved" up for a rainy day, and let us invest the Lord's money in advertizing, books, television and radio, and offer to America the only thing that can "fix" this broken society! Let us start a spiritual "tea party" movement with a spiritual emphasis to it. Let us point the way back to the Bible – and let us do it today! If hundreds and thousands of congregations would rise up, and spend the necessary money to inform America of a better way, perhaps our generation will witness a resurgence in the growth of the church. If politically minded men and women can so influence the political landscape via the "tea party" movement, think of what spiritually minded men and women can do as they march forth with the gospel of Christ.
The late Winston Churchill came to a position of power and prominence during the darkest days of England's illustrious history. On May 10, 1940, Germany began a massive attack against Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Defending those countries were the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) along with the French, Belgian, and Dutch armies. Although the opposing armies seemed evenly matched, there was a crucial difference in command structures and battle tactics. The Germans had an aggressive battle plan and utilized modern communications such as radio. German tank generals including Heinz Guderian and Erwin Rommel commanded from the front lines, improvising when necessary, and urging their troops onward. After just a few weeks of battle, Hitler's armies had experienced stunning victories on all fronts. Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium had capitulated by the end of May. Paris fell on June 14. Three days later, France sued for peace. In his speech to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Winston Churchill discussed the disastrous turn of events in Europe with the realization that Britain now stood alone against the seemingly unstoppable German military juggernaut. In the depths of despair, with little on the horizon to offer hope for a victory over Nazi Germany, the prime minister encouraged them with what became one of his most notable speeches. He closed that speech with the following arousing words:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'
It may very well be that this country is living on borrowed time. Who knows whether or not there are enough righteous souls to preserve this nation? We can only pray that God will have mercy. But let us also seize the sword of the Spirit and go forth with the gospel of Christ. If we are diligent in planting the seed of God's word, perhaps it will be said by our grandchildren and great-grandchildren that, like England of old, "This was their finest hour."
