Trenches of national warfare

 How could the greatest military in the world be defeated by a rag tag group of farmers? That was the question on everyone’s mind in 1781. However, after half the remaining British army was blown down river, resulting in a British surrender the next day, the answer was simply stated by Benjamin Franklin when he said, “God governs in the affairs of men.”

God brought rain, mud, freeze, wind, fog, storms, and sudden flash floods to ensure an American victory in the Revolutionary War. Washington and his troops were able to escape certain death through all of these natural elements during those days of warfare for a nation. At Yorktown, in 1781, the British general was surrounded and attempted his own miraculous escape. He split his troops into two divisions to cross the York River in retreat. One garrison made the trip safely across the river. The other faced a sudden gale wind in their attempt and was swept down river, leaving the British with no choice but to surrender the next day, thus ending the war and giving a bunch of farmers a nation of our own.

Two hard facts are evident in our nation’s history. One is the fact that without the hand of God upon our fight for freedom, we would not be here today. Two is that the warfare for this nation is not over by any means. Paul told us plainly in the last chapter of Ephesians that we do not fight against flesh and blood because the flesh, according to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church is corruptible and perishable. The warfare for our nation is never ending because the battle is and never was dependent upon human frailty. Paul goes on in Ephesians chapter 6 and explains that the true fight is ongoing and deeply seeded in the spiritual realms. The enemy no longer carries a musket and marches in a row. He is the same enemy but with different clothing. His appearance has changed, but his mission remains the same - destroy God’s nation, God’s people, and God’s children.

240-plus years ago, Gen. Washington was frequently seen alone in prayer, in true warfare for a nation. The secret to victory in this war will never be found in the gun or in the military genius of the mind; it will be humbly executed on our knees. In 1776, the British couldn’t attack Gen. Washington at Princeton because the rain and mud made it impossible to advance. However, Washington and his troops once again were able to escape that night because the temperatures dropped, and the ground froze, which turned the mud into temporary pavement. I am convinced the freeze was made possible more because of the moments in prayer rather than the frigid conditions.

If God is directly involved in the affairs of mankind, as Benjamin Franklin stated years ago, then he is still involved today. Your revolution is still being fought, and the warfare for this nation continues. Our nation began on its knees in prayer, and, if we are to survive it, we will have to continue the same way.

Let’s discuss it more in person this Sunday, at Christpoint Church. We’re on Liberty Square, in Sparta, and we’ll see you at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. We’re real people, living real lives, serving a real God. Welcome home.