Charles Dickens, the great English writer, wrote in his book, A Tale of Two Cities, the following: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light... in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on it being received, for good or evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859, but reading these words makes one almost feel that he is talking about modern America. In many ways, it is the best of times in America, yet we have pessimists who declare that it is the worst of times. No nation on earth has achieved the technological and scientific levels that America has attained, yet we still have those who would destroy our status as the leader of the free world. We have people of unparalleled intellectual achievement, yet we have those who lack wisdom..
America has some of the best colleges and universities in the world, yet students who profess to want to learn and think logically are given "safe spaces" on campus so that they will not be exposed to a variety of differing thoughts. We have some of the greatest churches in the world, yet our children are taught in public schools that there is no God. The President of the United States, the commander-in-chief, wants to keep Americans safe from terrorism, yet the courts think it is prudent to allow individuals from terrorist nations to enter this country without background checks. Illegal immigrants break our laws and cross America’s borders, yet they are welcomed by a large section of the country. Our very culture is slowly but surely being destroyed, yet some in the highest levels of our government will not support commonsense measures to protect our citizens and preserve our culture.
For the past several Sundays, our Sunday school class has been studying how God raised up great men to lead Israel. Samson was one of the leaders that God selected even though he was sometimes reluctant to do what he was supposed to do. He was a fierce warrior with supernatural strength, yet in the end, blind and chained to the temple support columns, he brought the building down on himself. A tragic end to a life with so much promise.
Then there was Moses. Movies have been made about the life of Moses and his challenge to lead his people out of the land of Egypt. Moses was, also, a reluctant leader. When God spoke to him out of the burning bush, he gave more excuses not to take the job God was commanding him to perform than a small child. Yet in the end, he did as God commanded and brought his people out of Egypt. But he never made it to the "promised land."
America has been very fortunate. When we needed a leader of extraordinary strength and courage, I believe that God has sent that special person. Do you realize the odds against Donald Trump becoming our President? He took on 17 skilled politicians in a rough and tumble primary, and when he beat Hillary Clinton in the general election, he defied every poll and every pundit’s prediction.
America’s future as a great nation literally hung in the balance. Had the election gone the other way, I shutter to think of the trouble we would be in. America as we know it today would have morphed into something similar to an east European country.
In retrospect, it seems that Donald Trump has all of the qualities to make this country great again. No other politician could withstand the media onslaught that he has endured. A regular politician would have thrown in the towel and begged for mercy. Yet, Trump arrives for work every morning, ready to attack those things that are holding our country back.
President Trump said in his address at the Kennedy Center that he wants Americans to "pray at ball games, and pray in our schools." He is removing all of the "executive orders" that restricted our "freedom of worship", and he is standing strong for the First Amendment.
America has come a long way in just the short time he has been president, but there is much work yet to be done. But I have a good feeling. I believe that great leaders are chosen by God, and if that is the case, then that corrupt "swamp" that we call Washington, D. C., will see some dry land in the very near future.
