In these divisive and difficult times, as we prepare for the return of Jesus Christ, we must remain focused on God's sovereign authority and not get entangled in the societal conflicts around us. Reflecting on the history of this nation, we see the consequences of choices made apart from God's word, particularly during the Civil War in Abraham Lincoln's era, where 620,000 lives were lost due to division and strife rooted in disobedience to God's law. This tragic loss underscores the pain and suffering that result from abandoning God's truth. Moreover, considering the nation's founding in 1776, the rebellion against King George III, despite God's clear instructions against such actions, raises questions about whether such a costly Civil War could have been avoided had the colonists remained under the authority of a king placed by God. The immense loss of life in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War might have been prevented if God's word had been heeded, highlighting the importance of aligning our choices with His will. We must not allow our affections for this country or its history to draw us into involvement with a world built on decisions contrary to God's word. Our responsibility is to prepare as Christ's perfected helpmate, making choices that reflect God's truth and steering clear of the divisions that have plagued humanity since the beginning.

Since its founding, the United States has faced disagreement and division, but rarely with the intensity seen in certain periods of history. Nearly sixty years after early political feuds, a battle over Federalism versus Republicanism, or strong central government versus states' rights, erupted into the American Civil War, also known as the War Between the States. This conflict, the bloodiest in American history, claimed approximately 800,000 lives. When it ended, Union troops had defeated the states' rights Confederacy, preserving the nation, though at a tragic cost, including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate supporter. In the 1960s, America experienced another tumultuous decade, rivaling the Civil War era, with protests over the Vietnam War and unresolved racial discrimination issues stemming from slavery and segregation. Cities burned amid violent confrontations, yet the nation endured as compromise and cooler heads eventually prevailed. Today, America faces great civil turmoil once more, with some observers questioning if the country is approaching another bloody Civil War, especially as state and federal courts grapple with what is called the greatest Constitutional crisis since that historic conflict. The question remains whether Americans possess the will for such a protracted and bloody conflict or if cooler heads will again prevail.

Two days ago, it was the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, which took place on February 12, 1809. As a boy, that day, along with George Washington's birth on February 22, 1732, were considered days of remembrance in many states, significant enough in American history that schools and local government offices often closed. When in school on those days, the focus was on memorializing these presidents and the periods in which they lived, as well as the legacies historians attributed to them. Neither day was a national holiday, yet both were observed as important across the United States from about 1879 through 1970, with varying state practices. By 1968, these days of remembrance were diminished under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, enacted by Congress on June 28 of that year to boost the travel industry and provide federal employees a three-day weekend. This act moved Washington's birthday to the third Monday in February, effective from 1971, but did not combine it with Lincoln's birthday, despite common belief. Although often mistakenly called President's Day, it remains officially Washington's birthday, intended as a remembrance of the first President who set the standard for the office. Over time, the distinct memorials became distorted and watered down within the self-serving minds of men. As a child, it was required to memorize and recite Abraham Lincoln's speech from November 19, 1863, delivered at the dedication ceremony of the cemetery at Gettysburg, recognized as one of the most significant speeches in American history.