Black History Month - Learning From History

In speaking to the Massachusetts's Anti-Slavery Society in 1865, Frederick Douglass argued that African Americans be given the right to vote immediately, “It may be objected, however, that this pressing of the Negro’s right to suffrage is premature. Let us have slavery abolished, it may be said, let us have labor organized, and then, in the natural course of events, the right of suffrage will be extended to the Negro. I do not agree with this. The constitution of the human mind is such, that if it once disregards the conviction forced upon it by a revelation of truth, it requires the exercise of a higher power to produce the same conviction afterwards. The American people are now in tears. The Shenandoah has run blood–the best blood of the North. All around Richmond, the blood of New England and of the North has been shed–of your sons, your brothers and your fathers. We all feel, in the existence of this Rebellion, that judgments terrible, wide-spread, far-reaching, overwhelming, are abroad in the land; and we feel, in view of these judgments, just now, a disposition to learn righteousness. This is the hour. Our streets are in mourning, tears are falling at every fireside, and under the chastisement of this Rebellion we have almost come up to the point of conceding this great, this all-important right of suffrage. I fear that if we fail to do it now, if abolitionists fail to press it now, we may not see, for centuries to come, the same disposition that exists at this moment. [Applause.] Hence, I say, now is the time to press this right.” Brilliant and powerful words. Is there a lesson here for America today? Having turned our back on the right of the unborn to live, are we “under the chastisement” of economic turmoil, moral chaos and an internal and international threat of radical Islam? In our abandonment of transcendent moral truth regarding the sanctity of life are we guilty of disregarding “...the conviction forced upon it by a revelation of truth” therefore requiring “...the exercise of a higher power to produce the same convictions afterwards”? Should we not also “...feel, in view of these judgments, just now, a disposition to learn righteousness.” History repeats itself. I read that this morning. “What is happening now has happened before.” (Ecclesiastes 3:15 NLT) God is never mocked (Galatians 6:7). Man always has and always will reap what he sows. We have been spilling the blood of the innocents for over 38 years now - estimates varying between 50 to 60 million unborn babies - not done is a corner but in the face of those who have deliberately preferred to close their eyes. Frederick Douglass, as President Abraham Lincoln, saw in the Civil War the chastisement of God, Lincoln saying, “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away...Yet if God wills that it continue until...every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword...so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’” Lou Engle comments , “He [Lincoln] understood that the Civil War was God’s drawn sword. And if 600,000 men died on the battle fields of the Civil War for that bloodshed, what is it going to mean to America if He deals with us for the blood of 50 million babies?” (The Abortion Matrix) As Frederick Douglas said in his appeal to the abolitionists in Massachusetts, “This is the hour.” So it is with us. We must prevail in prayers of repentance and take every step necessary to end the slaughter of the unborn in this land. God’s promise and warning are irrevocable, “If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:3 NIV) America, the choice is before us. God help us in the response we make.