Barak Obama recently made a statement that caused a stir within the Democratic party. Barak said that Ronald Reagan was a transformative figure. Much attention and even some criticism was heaped upon Obama for making this statement. Certainly we are hearing the name of Reagan invoked among the Republican candidates. It seems that they are literally tripping over each other to out “Reagan” each other. This all is a living testimony of respect and honor to the former President.
Dear readers, what are we looking at here? Why are all the accolades and praise being directed at President Reagan? Let’s do a little digging and searching here. Maybe you think you know all about Ronald Reagan, and many of you may actually know very little. Ronald Reagan is not really the core focus of this article, but an example to illustrate an issue that is of the utmost importance to all of us. Please stay engaged with us as a beautiful theme and story is woven on these pages!!
Ronald Reagan had a deep and abiding love of freedom. From his early days as an actor, Reagan was very much involved in promoting the cherished ideas of freedom, whether in this nation, or the lives of individuals. He fought the communist party’s attempt to infiltrate and take over Hollywood back in the 40’s. Communist backers in Hollywood saw Reagan’s influence as a key reason for their defeat. Actor Sterling Hayden, a member of the Communist party at the time, later testified before congress about the strike and how the communists tried to paralyze the entertainment industry and take over the unions. Explaining why their efforts failed, Hayden said they had run into Reagan, who was a one man battalion. Reagan proved the old adage that one person can make a difference. Incidentally, that reminds me of a passage found in Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none”. The question could be asked, did Ronald Reagan fulfill a type of this divine mandate mentioned here in Ezekiel 22:30? We will briefly try to answer this question before we leave Reagan’s legacy.
All of us remember Reagan’s immortal words, “It’s morning in America again”! Those of us old enough, remember some of the dark and troubling times of the 70’s! Reagan was very fond of saying that America was that “Shining City On A Hill”! This was a statement which could be referenced back to the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. Reagan knew, and openly stated, that there was a titanic battle going on between good and evil. One surely can recall that he called the Soviet Empire the Evil Empire! Reagan was bitterly attacked and vilified by the stance that he chose. Once again, however, he was a one man battalion in the fight for something he believed in. Reagan believed in a philosophy that freedom would always come out on top.
England’s former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher toasted President Reagan praising him for putting freedom on the offensive where it belongs. You see, Reagan didn’t just talk about it, he did something about his beliefs!!
Reagan told Secretary Gorbachev at the Geneva Summit the reasons why America feared, and despised the Soviet system. He then proceeded to directly, and with passion, address the evil empires leading ruler. Perhaps the defining statement of his administration was, “Mr. Gorbachev, “Tear Down This Wall”! Indeed, freedom was in the blood and DNA of Ronald Wilson Reagan and it brought about sweeping change in the lives of many people.
Reagan did go and proclaim freedom with a deep seated passion! This man stood in the gap for a concept which is ancient in it’s origins. We’ll end Reagan’s legacy and life with the following story that is true! Ronald Reagan was serving as the Governor of California in 1970 when something very dramatic occurred. A group of men, including the singer Pat Boone, and three or four others asked Governor Reagan if he’d like to join them in a prayer circle. Reagan said that, indeed he’d welcome the opportunity! The prayer was actually designed to pray a blessing over Reagan as Governor. George Otis, a minister who was in the circle at some point, spoke and prayed prophetic words over him. Otis told Reagan that if he would follow God and all His ways, he would reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That, my friends, is the address of the White House. Pat Boone asked Reagan years later if he remembered the prophetic word spoken over him by George Otis? Reagan’s reply to Boone on the phone from the Oval Office was, “Oh Yes”! Now you know the rest of the story as Paul Harvey says.
At the National Prayer breakfast on February 4, 1982, Reagan said, “I’ve always believed that we are, each of us, put here for a reason that there is a plan, somehow a divine plan for all of us. Is it any wonder that a sign was captioned at Reagan’s funeral which said, “Now there was a President”!
Go and proclaim freedom!! What a statement and mandate to speak and to pursue. Let’s develop now the real message contained in this letter and the life of President Reagan.
The concept of freedom is a powerful life giving force which is very ancient in it’s origins. Men and women down through the ages have pursued and fought for the rights and blessings that flow from freedom. The mighty God of Israel, Yahweh, is the author and sustainer of any liberty and freedoms that mankind posses. Freedom is indeed a vital part of the nature of our Elohim God. Exodus 6:6 records Yahweh telling Moses that it is He who will bring freedom and redemption to His people Israel. Yahweh taught and bequeathed to His people of Israel a divine love of freedom.
Lev 25:10 records the command to, “Go and proclaim freedom throughout all the land”. It could be said that Yahweh inserted this love of freedom into the DNA of Israel.
The concept of freedom was planted and established even in the Garden of Eden. The right to make choices was permitted and we all know the results of that free choice as it played out. We praise God for the freedom He gives us to make choices even though mankind has and does suffer from our choice selections at times. Our heavenly Father did not want or desire to have human robots running around on planet earth. The choice He desired was for the created to turn and love Him from the deepest parts of the heart. Our God loved us too much to control every facet of our lives. We find in Deut 30:19-20 a foundational and defining teaching, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God”. Listen to His voice and hold fast to Him, for the Lord is your life!
Freedom carries with it the responsibility to choose correctly. The passage above in Deut 30, clearly points out that curses and death are behind the one proverbial door with blessings and life behind the other door. The decision to choose either door is squarely in our court. All decisions have consequences, so wisdom, understanding, and correct knowledge is an absolute requirement to good and right decisions.
The nation of Israel is a classic model that we can all learn from as their historical record is reviewed. God is a creator God of order and beauty, not of chaos and confusion. Freedom is founded upon certain dynamics and laws which will prevent chaos and confusion from being the order of the day. Many people are irked by rules, regulations or laws of any type. A spirit of rebellion is seen many times in people’s responses to something which has authority or a penalty in it.
Many would ask, what the purpose behind a certain rule, law or regulation is. Have we ever considered that the purpose or reason is an issue of freedom? You see, good laws contain in them the promise and assurance of protection. Certainly all of mans laws and rules are not 100% right or good, but what about those of a sovereign creator God?
How would you like to receive something that God had handwritten to you? That would be awesome wouldn’t it! I’d think that personal gift would be treasured, protected and kept forever by the recipient. Yahweh did precisely that to all of us!
Deut 6 & Ex 20 detail the codified commandments that were written by His own hand and given to the people of Israel. Matt 5:17 confirms that these same commandments, all 10 of them, apply to us today and on into the future.
Deut chapters 4 and 6 describe the wisdom, beauty, and protection contained in these great laws. It is recorded that other nations would look at Israel in awe for having such wise and beneficial laws. Israel sadly learned from bitter experience that true freedom is derived and maintained from obedience to the commandments of Yahweh. Israel opened the wrong doors of choice and paid with the destruction of their land!
Oh yes, it is important to proclaim freedom to all the land, but, true freedom needs to be fully understood. I sat in the presence of an individual once who thought he understood what real freedom involved and meant. The definition or commentary that this man gave was sad, wrong and eventually for him, personally tragic. His concept of freedom was no restraints or rules prohibiting him from doing as he pleased. This man openly stated that it was a wonderful thing to do what you wanted to do, when you wanted to, with no one telling you what to do. This mind set is actually satanic in nature as Isaiah 14 points out so clearly. Lucifer tried to elevate himself above God and His throne, and was cast forever out of the presence of his loving creator. There are many flesh and blood clay pots out there who don’t want the hand of the Master Potter upon them and their lives.
II Corn 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”. James 2:12 speaks of the law that gives freedom. God’s spirit, presence, and hand has, and will always be aligned with the freedom which is also established upon His laws and commandments that Psalm 119:160 describes as eternal.
I love reading the words of the prophet Isaiah found in Chapter 61. He says, “I’ve been anointed to bring good news to the poor, captives, and broken hearted. That good news is to proclaim freedom from all of these conditions mentioned. I personally find it interesting that Yeshua Jesus, our Messiah, spoke the same words of the prophet Isaiah in Luke 4:14-19. It is actually recorded that Messiah turned specifically to that particular passage after the book of Isaiah was handed to Him! Yeshua knew exactly what He wanted to read.
Our Messiah was called to go also and proclaim freedom throughout all the land. It is a universal mandate in it’s scope and magnitude. Isaiah 25 speaks of the time when all nations will have freedom proclaimed and established in their midst. The Sovereign Creator will perform this from His Holy mountain. Universal salvation will become a reality in the day and set time that Yahweh declares. This is getting ahead of ourselves somewhat at this time. That’s the hope and reality that God’s word teaches and points us to for the future.
At this time, our feet are to be those that bring Good News to this dying and suffering world. We are given a holy and divine commission to go and proclaim freedom!!
Reagan advanced and proclaimed freedom because he too recognized it was a divine mandate from above. There is much that could be written on this subject of freedom, but I want to close by putting the focus on America as it regards this issue of freedom.
The opening lines of this letter stated that Ronald Reagan had been called a transformative figure by Barack Obama. In essence Regan transformed not only the political landscape, but a nation caught up in the malady of some hard times. America has been a transformative nation by any standard of measurement one can choose to use. Never has there been a nation which has so transformed, impacted, and changed the world.
Dear readers, do you ever just really question and wonder about the real reasons and foundation for this heritage that is ours? Ronald Reagan often referred to us as that “Shining City On A Hill”! Is it mere coincidence that Samaria was called the “City On A Hill” in I Kings 16:24? Samaria just happened to be the capital city of Ephraim, the leader of the Northern Kingdom of Israel! God is a God of divine design and order in all that He does. The ancient nation of Israel was planted, and commanded to be a lighthouse nation to all the surrounding nations! She was to proclaim freedom through her words, actions, and example!
America was, and has been raised up to be that powerful transforming lighthouse nation to display God’s purpose on earth!
Many American’s don’t know what’s inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue Of Liberty! Let’s review the moving and historical words which are written on this nations most famous, and defining statue. What follows is the excerpt that I want mentioned in this article: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest- tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door”
Wow!! These words and the message look a lot like Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:14 to the eyes and understanding of this writer! These words carry prophetic overtones for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. America, the nation that Ronald Reagan loved, has in many ways fulfilled her divine mandate!!
Proverbs 25:1-2 speaks of digging and searching for something that is hidden or a mystery. I would submit that America and her heritage is shrouded in more mystery than meets the normal eye. The actual mystery can only be decoded through the key of God’s word, especially the prophetic passages. God willing, this ministry, by His blessing, will be sharing even more concerning this and other issues in the coming days!
I want to leave you with a passage of scripture to think on, and to study as this article comes to a close. Psalm 147:19-20 says that God has revealed His word to Israel, His laws, and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation. Other nations do not know His laws! Freedom has it’s moorings and foundations in law which produces light, order and blessings. Freedom was in the national DNA of ancient Israel, and it’s in the DNA of modern America!
Stay tuned, dear readers to the rest of the story, as it has time to unfold!
Shalom blessings to all!
Terry
