In God We Trust
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).
The psalmist provided us with a stark contrast between the nations surrounding Israel and the chosen people of God. The pagan nations built up armies of men on horses and chariots. The greater the number, the more powerful and invincible they believed themselves to be, but the people of God looked to Yahweh. They had experienced the power of God in His deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt. He is the only omnipotent one. Against apparent insurmountable odds, they looked to Him.
When faced with the impossible, Jesus said, “With man this [salvation/deliverance] is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
We recently passed an especially important anniversary of a world-changing event. Eighty years ago, thousands of brave men began a seemingly impossible beach assault against the Nazis. The quiet passing of the anniversary of this event led me to think about other apparent impossibilities. Yet, I can’t imagine the impossibility of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. To a great extent, this was the final nail in the coffin of Nazi Germany.
It has been estimated that 9,000 men lost their lives in the cause of freedom on that day in 1944. Let us remember two things. First, the cost of freedom is high. Second, the only certain place of hope is in the God who does the “impossible”.
Yes, “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
We do well to remember those seemingly impossible times and God’s deliverance in the midst of them. I was struck this past week by the nearly deafening silence caused by the absence of calls to remember D-Day. There was hardly a mention of that terrible and also great day in 1944. I’m still thinking about our forgetfulness. I fear that we may lose sight of the cost of freedom. I fear that we will ignore or deny the goodness of our Sovereign God if we are overwhelmed by individual circumstances that seem impossible to solve.
The revealed history of Israel, that nation so favored by God, had a history of forgetting God’s mighty works of deliverance. The Apostle Paul affirmed the advantage of the people of Israel. They were entrusted with the very words of God (Romans 3:2). Yet, they failed to obtain God’s promised salvation.
My point in looking at the Old Testament nation of Israel is to emphasize the necessity of remembering, as well as the danger of forgetting or ignoring, God’s Providence.
As we look around us, the freedom we enjoy came at a cost. It was given to us by the gracious providence of God, and so many brave young men paid the ultimate price for it. I pray that we will not slide down the slippery slope of apathy, presuming upon the grace and mercy of God.
May we look at God’s past action in delivering us, and give Him thanks. May we continue to look to God to deliver us every day from those who would rob us of the freedom for which those young men gave their lives.
Men will continue to do evil. There will be a continual struggle against oppression and there will be many opportunities to stand against the evil done by men. May we have the courage to stand strong under God. May we draw our courage from the living God and not from man’s might, position, or power.
Remember the cost of freedom. Honor the memory of those 9,000 men who died on those far away beaches. Praise the Sovereign Lord who promised to work all things together for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
We have been given the greatest blessing and privilege of all the nations of the earth. We have been blessed by God to live in freedom. May we remember the past so as to persevere in standing for the liberty and freedom of all men. May we use our liberty and resources given by Almighty God to stand against evil.
The only secure place to stand is upon the solid rock who is Christ. “We trust in the Name of the LORD our God!”
