Our Lot in Life

The Mayflower

At what point do we give up on Holland and head for the New World?

How far do we have to be pushed into a system of life that we don't want and ultimately can't afford that squashes our freedom and individual ability to make decisions for ourselves before we throw up our hands and say, "Screw this. I'm outta here." ?

Historically speaking, our breed does not pick fights. We simply wish to be left alone. It is only when the powerful and the elite push us to the brink of slavery that we finally begin to fight back. But when we do, we fight for our very lives. We fight with complete disregard for anything other than to rid ourselves of this evil that has decided it has a right to own us.

Why do we do it? Is it just the intrinsic desire of a man to be free? To live his life as he sees fit without someone telling him that he must bow and scrape for the good of "society?" Does he say to himself, "How is anything good for society that is not good for me? Am I not part of society?"

In history, many people have fought for freedom, often to get a small return on their investment of blood. Many nations and many peoples are under some form of tyranny right now. Some are fighting back as I type these words, but for the most part they will not succeed. What is it that caused the American colonists to vow to either be free or just die? To say that life with a boot on your neck is not a life worth living, and we will fight you though you bring the whole world's armies to our doorsteps.

To some this may seem a tad overkill. In the past we heard, "Better Red than dead." Now it seems like that same mentality grips us when it comes to socialism. "Oh, well, at least I've got a little bit of my paycheck left." The machine has been built for so long and is now so powerful that there are honestly times I almost say to myself, "What's the point of fighting it? It will never stop trying to rule over you. Eventually they will succeed, why delay the inevitable?"

Like many barbarians in this world, I love a good scrap. But aside from being a sinner, there is no desire for evil in my heart. So it's hard for me to comprehend that others can be so hateful. I am still shocked at some of the vitriol that comes out against the tea party protesters, regular joes like a certain plumber, and of course, Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin who a year ago was a good governor with a husband and five kids who most people seemed to like even if they disagreed with her politics. Now I look at some of these editorials that continue to come out and even though I should be used to it by now, sometimes I am still bewildered and fall back wondering, "Why do they hate her so much?"

And it's not that they disagree with her policies, they hate her. It is extremely personal. Now, I don't like Obama's policies, but I don't care one way or another about him personally. I'm sure he's a fun guy to be around; I don't really even think about it. I have no desire to destroy him personally. I would like to keep him from destroying the country with stuff like this healthcare bill and other things, but beyond that I'd just as soon leave the guy alone. I don't understand the level of hatred that people on the left and the right have for Sarah Palin. I know they fear her to no end, and I'm sure there are other explanations, but I don't have the heart to go into them right now. I just don't understand these people. Do they have nothing better to do with their day than to criticize and bash relentlessly a good person? I don't get it.

And I'm thankful that I don't. I guess at the end of the day we all choose our side. And for whatever reason Sarah Palin seems to be the line drawn in the sand and people are lining up on either side of her.

So what are we ordinary barbarians to do? We have to keep talking to and supporting each other. I don't know what this is going to turn into, but it's going to get alot worse before it gets better. Take a word from Hebrews:

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

Now, in context this verse is to believers, but it applies quite nicely. Alone we are weak; together we are strong.

What exactly is our lot in life? It seems as though we are to flee until we can flee no more, and then to fight. But never give in. Never surrender. Petition, remonstrate, prostrate ourselves at the feet of the king and beg for our freedom and the rights that God has given us. But if every olive branch is spurned, we simply stand and do not let them take our liberty from us. We won't fight them unless they insist on a fight. But if they insist, we most definitely will not disappoint them.

We were chased from every corner of the earth to this heaven-sent place where we could live in freedom and peace. Now the tyrants have found us. They no longer wave their fingers at us from the other side of the world; they dwell in our own government. And they won't stop until they have made us bow to their will.

We have to decide who we are. Decide what's right and what's wrong. Is it right that I can work my tail off and the government can take a big chunk out of what I've earned and spend it carelessly and I have no say? Or give it to whoever they want when that person didn't sweat to earn it, like I did? Is that right?

No. It is not.

Alexis de Tocqueville saw our end when he saw our beginning. He warned against the government getting to a point where it would kill us softly, not with a sword, but with so many rules and regulations that it would slowly stifle even our desire to resist. It would come to us as a parent, wanting to take care of every need, and in the process it would steal our ability to take care of ourselves, leave us dependent on the state for our existence, and reduce us to nothing more than sheep. A good portion of our population today seems almost eager to become a sheep.

Not me.

So what am I to do? Is there any place else to run to? It seems like the dark shadow of tyranny has nearly overwhelmed the whole world. A bushel basket is being carefully and quietly positioned over our candle just waiting for the right time to cut the rope and snuff out America's light. But everywhere else is the same, if not worse. We're cornered.

Maybe God's waiting for us to have our Psalm 35 moment. I don't believe in theocracy, or some of the more extreme views that some in the Christian community have about bringing about God's kingdom on earth, but it's obvious that God had a hand in the forming and the sustaining of this country.

Before the American Revolution, the First Continental Congress got together and someone made a motion to pray. John Jay objected, saying that all of the men present were from different denominations and could not really fellowship in prayer. Samuel Adams (who organized the very first tea party) got to his feet and declared:

“I am no bigot. I can hear the prayer of any man of piety and virtue who is a friend to his country.”

The motion was carried and that Congress literally hit its knees. Not every man in that room believed the same thing; some probably did not believe at all, but they recognized that the work ahead of them was bigger than what human hands could accomplish. They also read Psalm 35. I suggest we all read it. They emerged from that meeting refreshed and their hearts prepared for the war that was to come. We are in need of that preparation.

We must:

1. Not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
2. Draw close to our families, friends, and loved ones. Remind ourselves of what really matters.
3. Pray for each other, and for our country. And I suggest memorizing Psalm 35.

Ephesians 6 (a little out of order, but you get the idea):

Put on the whole armour of God....For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God....having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."