Out of the Mouths of Babes

[This was sent to me today in an email, I'm not affiliated with the author nor even know if she is indeed 14, but the wisdom in what she says is ageless. If the author is 14, I'm impressed by the eloquence of her message, but even if not, I'm challenged by her message nonetheless.]

Check out this article from the next generation So well refers to - this girl is only fourteen years old, yet so wise!

Unless the Lord Build the House
by Heather Layton

As a fourteen year old student and concerned citizen of our great land, there are many questions to be answered. Sometimes I wonder if the goals I am trying to set in place for my future will be threatened—threatened by a lack of voter interest for example. Is our country laboring in vain? Could it be that we should heed the wise words of our Benjamin Franklin, who declared at the Constitutional Convention: We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.

(1)How can “the Lord” build our house, our country, when many of our elected officials are fighting to keep Him out? Could it be that by choosing not to vote, that our society allows “builders of Babel”(people who don’t speak our founders’ faith-filled “language”) to become elected officials of our great land? Genesis 11 tells us the story of the building of the tower of Babel. The wisdom of God, in fixing upon a sure way to stop these proceedings, dispersed many languages among the people. How could they work together if they could not understand what the others were saying? God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has various and effectual means to baffle and defeat the projects of proud men that set themselves against Him and His word. Have our citizens elected proud officials that no longer feel the need for the ultimate builder? The Bible says “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:13-15.

Students are told by these same elected officials not to pray or bring a Bible to school anymore. We are told we can’t even display the Ten Commandments, which are the very words of wisdom that, if followed, would solve so many of the problems we face in our schools. Many youth are looking for answers in all the wrong places because the adults in our government are telling us we can’t look in the right ones. We are the next generation. I want to make a difference in America. Of all the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin has the unique distinction of having signed all three of the major documents that freed the colonies from British rule and established the United States as an independent nation: the Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris, and the United States Constitution. We would be wise to take note of the words of such a man, study the values of our candidates, and vote for candidates that will put his words of wisdom into action. With the upcoming elections drawing near, you can make a difference too. For future generations, I urge every voter to also follow the words of Christ and study to show yourselves a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Madison, James, The Papers of James Madison, Henry D. Gilpin,editor (Washington: Langtree & O’Sullivan, 1840), 2:985.

Have an awesome weekend! - Jay