Happy Birthday America

On July 4, 2026, America will turn 250 years old. What an amazing country. The American Revolution produced a country of self-government with a framework constitution that has protected our democracy. Thirteen years after the American War of Independence, the French Revolution occurred. This revolution was very different; it sought to eliminate its own citizens- everyone who disagreed or who might potentially disagree. These kinds of revolutions have occurred in Russia, China, and many other places. The Constitution has guided us with the blessings of God, and for that we are thankful.

Amazingly, this country has survived the many threats to our democracy, including the Civil War. Now we face a threat from those who want to change this country into a communist country, even though Communism has failed wherever it has been tried, except for those in power. They live very differently from the hordes of people held in its grip. Russia, China, North Korea, and Cuba are examples of governments that control their people and allow very little freedom. Freedom is the one thing they are most afraid of—because when people taste freedom, they will fight to keep it.

Although the War of Independence would be fought for eight long years, and most of those years it appeared the United States would lose. It was mostly a war of perseverance; if Washington and his ragtag army could manage to hang in there, Britain would grow tired of spending so much money on a foreign war. Everything finally came together for Washington and his troops in Yorktown, Virginia, in the final year of the war. The Americans fought bravely, and the French Navy blocked the British Navy from escaping. On October 17, 1782, General Cornwallis surrendered. It was never supposed to have happened, but it did. The Thirteen Colonies were free, and the war was finally over.

On September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was passed in Congress and ratified by the states on June 21, 1788. What a wonderful document our founding fathers gave us. It has endured these 250 years and has preserved our freedom and liberty. There have been times when it has been assailed from all sides, and it is still attacked today. We pray that it will be safeguarded and remain a beacon of hope and light for our country. God was with our nation at its founding, and we need Him with us now to restore our faith in Him as a nation. We need God today more than ever.