“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

These words, some of the most famous in the English language, are found in the Declaration of Independence of what would become the United States of America, adopted on July 4, 1776—a pivotal point in human history. As I write this on the evening of July 4, I can hear the thunder of fireworks exploding in the distance as Americans celebrate the nation’s 235th birthday.

Notice a truth that is self-evident in the words above: The men who wrote and signed this famous declaration believed that “all men are created”and that they have a Creator. The Declaration also refers to “Laws of Nature and of Nature's God” and to “the Supreme Judge of the world.” Obviously God was very much in their thinking at that pivotal time.

What would the nation’s Founding Fathers think if they could see their nation today?

They would obviously be profoundly impressed at the material wealth and prosperity of the country. Our houses, highways, cities and communications would astound them. Our standing as the world’s lone superpower would amaze them. The sheer size of the country—“from sea to shining sea”—would astonish them. 

But many other things would shock them, and clearly not in any positive way.

What would they think of the fact that we murder more than a million helpless, innocent, unborn children every year through abortion? 

What would they think of the shocking plagues of immorality, adultery, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, divorce, sexual perversions, violence and crime that rot our nation?

What would they think of the staggering amount of debt run up by our governments—currently totaling more than half a million dollars per U.S. household—with no realistic way to pay it off?

Why is this nation, so strong for so long, now facing problems seemingly at every turn? Why does it seem that things have suddenly gone so wrong in so many ways all at once?

Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence and later the third President of the United States, wrote this warning: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

Jefferson knew enough about history to know that a nation that forgets God will reap the consequences of rejecting our Creator—a lesson the United States is increasingly learning the hard way.

Another famous American President, Abraham Lincoln, said: “We have forgotten God . . . We have become . . . too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

What did these men know that we don’t? One thing they understood is the eternal truth of Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

They understood that ultimately a nation’s strength is only as strong as its faith in and obedience to its Creator. And they warned of exactly what we are seeing today. May we have the wisdom and heart to heed their warnings!