God Bless Australia

The Psalmist said, “Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD... " 

Do these words of the Psalmist still hold true for nations such as Australia in our day? As we celebrate Anzac Day, it would be good to stop for a moment and take stock of the blessings of freedom and to remember the sacrifices of those who purchased these with their blood. We who have attended the dawn services and marched in the parades with our fellow returned service men, have watched the faltering steps of those honoured men who have served the country in many conflicts. We have seen the tears fall freely upon the cheeks of stooped and greying men, as they have wept openly for their fallen comrades in arms. We have heard again and again the poignant words, “Lest we forget,” issue as heart-rending prayers from the lips of those who hold the memory of the fallen so dear. We have stood trembling in the half-light and heard the mournful notes of the last post; played in remembrance of those who lie in graves on such faraway fields as Gallipoli and the Owen Stanley ranges. Such observances should move us to once again thank God for those who have gone before us. As we count the blessings of freedom they have bequeathed us, we should surely say and pray, “God Bless Australia.”

God has richly blessed Australia. There are no concentration camps in Australia. People are not executed for seeking to flee our land.There are no dreaded knocks in the middle of the night. There are no mass graves filled with the bodies or those who have been killed by despotic dictators and godless regimes. Every person in our nation has a free voice and a free vote.

In governmental matters, the voice of the people can reflect the way and will of God. We have freedom of religion and speech. I can still say just about anything I wish from the pulpit. There is yet no law that can muzzle me. I can tell you the truth about anything from our Premier to the Prime Minister.

Mark Twain once said, “…a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them. … If the Christians .... could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country — a country whose Christians have betrayed it and are destroying it...Christianity...is on trial now. And nothing important is on trial except Christianity.” He said this a century and one-half ago. How much greater are the weight of his words today!

Henry Blackaby wrote in Fresh Encounter: “Christians should not be surprised by the spiritual darkness around us. That is all it can be. Darkness is dark. The greater problem is not with the darkness. The problem is with the light. When light shines, it dispels darkness. We face a growing spiritual  darkness in our land because the light is not shining brightly.”

On this Anzac Day, let us praise God for His past blessings upon our nation and pray He will continue to bless us. But at the same time let us remember that if we are to expect His continuing blessings upon our nation, we must recognise our need for Him in our national life today. We must be willing to meet His conditions for such continuing national blessings. Conditions that are made crystal clear in His word: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

What Our Nation Needs Now

On this Anzac Day weekend we remember in particular those who were willing to make the supreme sacrifice for God and country. It is true that many who paid the ultimate price did it for their mates and their kin folk at home in Australia. But we not only remember those brave men who laid it on the line 100 years ago, but we pay tribute to all who have willingly done so in subsequent just wars and conflicts. It may be well to remember that as far as the grand scheme of things is concerned, Australia’s contribution and participation numerically has not been at the top of the list. But no on could deny that Australia’s contribution has never been lacking in quality. Her per capita contribution has never been lacking either. Just as always has been the case, it often falls to the few to make the difference in times of great national crisis. So it is today. God has always used His two or three to stand up for the right and fight the good fight of the faith. Look at the Old Testament examples. Joseph in Egypt. Daniel and Shadrach, Meshack and Abendego down in Babylon. The remnant that would not bow their knee to Baal in Elijah’s day. David and his little sling. Gideon and his brave band of 300..

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The Reason Why

Purpose and motive are all important in the Christian life. It's often not what we do that really matters the most, but why we do what we do. We are to do right simply because it is right. Not for recognition, reward, fame or fortune, nor for personal or material gain. When we all get to heaven we will ultimately and intricately come to know the answers to all life's problems and perplexities and then, with the mind of Christ, come to fully understand the real purpose of it all. Until then, we must by obedient faith accept God's assertion that we are part of His eternal purpose to redeem unto Himself eternal sons and daughters.

In the meantime, we should love Him, because He first loved us. We should serve Him, because He first served us. It is reasonable we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice in His service, because in His mercy He first gave Himself for us. We should lose our life in His service because He gave His life for us. We should crown Him King of our lives, because He has made us priests and princes. We should glorify Him in our body because He some day will give us a glorified body. We should give Him glory in our church because He has given us His glorious church.

I still clearly remember a beautiful Spring day many years ago. We were planting a new church in a new suburb and I had been out all day knocking on door after door. It was one of those days that, in spite of prayer without ceasing, sometimes makes you wonder if you are really in the right place doing the right thing. Hour after exhausting hour had passed and nothing really worthy of spiritual note had occurred. As I walked up the footpath to our home late that afternoon, if I had felt any lower I would have needed an elevator to get out the basement of discouragement and despair.

Just as I approached the front steps, my little daughter, who had been watching for me for an hour through the window, threw open the front door, ran down the steps, and, throwing her arms wide, jumped into my arms. As she did, her little hand, clutching a small crushed bunch of wild flowers, came from behind her back and she cried, " Daddy, I love you!"

After recovering, I placed her on my shoulders and galloped her around the lawn; playing her favourite game. Later, I asked her why she had given me the flowers. I thought she may have expected me to bring her some candy or a toy. Or perhaps there was some special gift she wanted. She just looked at me with her big eyes and a big childish grin; threw her arms around me again and said, "I love you. You're the best Daddy in the whole wide world!"

Our love for our Father should flow from the same fountain of childlike faith, love and gratitude. We should love, honour, worship and serve Him simply because He is!