“The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.” (Jer 33:11 AV)

On the 13th of July 2013 my son Robert was joined in holy matrimony to his bride Heather.  Before God and a host of witnesses they exchanged their vows to love and nurture each other as long as they both live.

It was a time of great celebration, a time of joy.  The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride were heard as they joyfully expressed their love for each other.  I thank the Lord that even in these perilous times we live that God still blesses and upholds those who seek to do His will.  God’s mercy indeed endures for all generations unto those who will humble themselves before Him.  My prayer for Robert and Heather is that God would for a time insulate them from the world around them as He cements this relationship and that God would continue to mold them to be viewed by all as a testimony of God’s mercy and grace.

We live in a time in which that which is good and praise worthy is being despised and rejected.  Thank God for these moments of Joy and gladness, for I grieve for my Country and my people.  Even many of those who still who still profess Christianity are straying from the truth and rejecting the fundamental principles for holy living that are essential for our well-being.  Successful marriages have become a rarity instead of the norm, even in the Church.  Yet God is patiently pleading that people would again turn from their wicked , selfish ways, and seek truth.  For where there is no repentance, there is no reconciliation.  And without reconciliation their will be only judgment and death.

“Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.” (Jer 25:10 AV)

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

 “1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Ps 103:1-5 AV)

Bob Gunderson

“14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Heb 12:14-17 AV)

As I celebrated the independence of our nation from Great Britain I again contemplated that document that declared such action on the part of the United States of America.  Justification for such action was based upon a recognition of God and the self-evident truths that all men possessed.  The desire of these men that crafted this declaration was not for power,  money, or fame; but for liberty to pursue righteousness and justice.  At the time of the declaration the battle for liberty had already begun and would not be finished without tremendous cost that tested their resolve and courage.

We usually focus on the military battles which may not be the most important challenges to the liberty that they so desperately sought.  For underlying this effort were the battles of words, ideas, and philosophies.  These battles continued to rage for years even after the military battles were over.  I believe the end result culminated with a God inspired constitution, a humble God fearing president, and a nation dedicated to God.  As an American Citizen I view this as my birthright.  This is  the  heritage I celebrate.

I also recognize this is not the nation that I live in today.  Many in this nation have rejected their heritage and forgotten where we have come from and how we got here.  Our nations leaders have rejected God and neglected his commandments.  Our elections increasingly reflect a population that is willing to trade our heritage and the tremendous blessings that it has brought to us for , in essence, a bowl of soup.  In their short-sightedness they say as Esau did, “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Ge 25:32 AV)  Our  elections  have revealed a population willing to give up their liberty for promises of food, healthcare, and security.  In return our government is able to supply these things temporarily, at least until they run out of our money.  Which they already have done and now are borrowing money to continue the illusion.

I will suggest that Esau should rather have asked the question: What good is my living if I don’t have God’s blessing?  If America continues to despise their birthright it may soon be too late to rescue the liberty we once had.  And as Esau experienced, tears cannot restore that blessing.  Only God can.

16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Heb 12:14-17 AV)

Although I have intense concern for my nation and the direction that it is going, be advised, we as individuals are not in bondage to the choices of a nation.  We can live in a liberty that only God can give and be recipients of the blessings that come with it.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (Joh 8:36 AV

The freedom that Christ offers us is a freedom from the bondage to sin.  Not just freedom from the penalties of sin but also freedom from sin itself.  In Christ we are given a heritage and a birthright that is beyond our comprehension, eternal life.  But be advised.  Let us not despise our birthright and trade the liberty we have in Christ for false promises.  The temporary pleasures of sin bring heart aches and pain.  The promises of God are eternal and bring joy and contentment.

Bob Gunderson