On September 6, 1943, one of America’s deadliest train derailments occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when the “Congressional Limited”, the Pennsylvania Railroad’s fastest train of its time, was making its way through a station. Due to mechanical malfunctions, flames began to shoot out of a car’s hot box, which led to the snapping of an axle, causing the train to derail, and killing 79 passengers and injuring many others. One small malfunction caused a great catastrophe. In a nation that has “derailed” from the Biblical principles that kept our nation on the right track for so long, how do we as Christians keep from doing the same?
In a nation where the liberties we have enjoyed for so long are being infringed upon and slowly chipped away, it is imperative that we as believers keep on track by dwelling upon God’s Word. David said it best in Psalm 119:161- “Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.” David knew what it meant to be treated unjustly. He knew what it meant to be persecuted without a cause. Yet, David didn’t turn to rebellion or anarchy. Rather, David turned to the Word of God. David didn’t allow the unjust treatment he was receiving to veer him off the right track. Rather, David rejoiced at the treasure of God’s Word (v. 162), he expressed his love for the Word of God (v. 163), and he focused his heart upon praising God in light of God’s righteous judgments (v. 164). And in doing so, David found peace that only God’s Word could give. He said, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (v. 165). During these times when our culture has long-departed off the “tracks” of the Word of God, we as Christians must learn to so saturate our minds in the Word of God that we develop a great love for it which will, inevitably, bring a peace within our hearts. When we are given to the Word of God, the Bible states that nothing shall offend us. The word “offend” has the idea of a “stumbling block”. When God’s Word fills our hearts, nothing will cause us to stumble. Nothing will “derail” our service to God. Oh, how we desperately need this in the day and age we live!
The answer to our nation’s ills is not going to be found in government, education, psychology, or reform to community structures of authority. These are simply ways to pad our seats and make us feel good as a nation while ignoring the fact that the train is actually veering off the rails and headed for catastrophe. The only solution to keep us on the right track is a greater love for and devotion to God’s Word! When we stand in awe of God’s Word, God will stabilize us and fill our hearts with peace that keeps us from a catastrophic “derailment”.
~Pastor Aaron Francis
