Since I was born and raised in KY, with family and friends still living there, my heart sunk this morning when I saw the headline "Atheists Want God Out Of Homeland Security". Here are the first few lines...FRANKFORT, Ky. — A group of atheists filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to remove part of a state anti-terrorism law that requires Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security to acknowledge it can't keep the state safe without God's help.
American Atheists Inc. sued in state court over a 2002 law that stresses God's role in Kentucky's homeland security...
Of particular concern is a clause requiring the Office of Homeland Security to post a plaque that says the safety and security of the state "cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God" and to stress that fact through training and educational materials.
The plaque, posted at the Emergency Operations Center, includes the Bible verse: "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
Aren't times changing at roller coaster speed? The South used to be appropriately called "The Bible Belt," Christian colleges used to believe in the inerrancy of scripture, only a blink of time ago we were able to say "Merry Christmas" and the name of Jesus could be worn on a kids T-shirt without suspension from school.
If a small group of people that hate God in KY win their case and strip any reference to security, defense and help mainly coming from the Lord, it still will not change its fact. I sat on a couple of wonderful verses this morning...
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Ps.121:1-2
Sometimes, we seem to be on "mountaintops" in life where the air is fresh, the view is vast, and the sun seems closer. When in battle the mountain also provides protection and advantageous positioning to see and attack a vulnerable enemy below. Yet, the psalmist wrote from the valley. We've talked about valleys before-those places where shadows of death like to taunt, darkness often covers the pathway, or a vague sense of fear can pursue the traveler's thoughts.
Yet here is the place we are encouraged to find comfort and safety. Let me speak practically.
Our help will not come from a mountain of finances, a strong portfolio or a strategic position in some place of business. Our security and safety will not be because of military might, technological advances, governmental intervention or your own shotgun. It will not come from the very best physicians, the most knowledgeable experts, nor the most intelligent advisers.
"MY HELP comes from the LORD"...the One that MADE the vast expanse of the heavens and the earth. The One that made the mountains and the valleys, the nations and the rulers, the physicians and the medicine. Can you picture any source of safety and security in this world sitting next to the Lord...and then hear Him ask you "Where do you want YOUR help to come from?"
"Lest the Lord keep the nation, the city, the home, the family, the marriage, the children...they watch and labor in vain that try and keep it." Slight paraphrase of Psalm 127:1...but true.
