The Blessings of God

Alexis de Tocqueville, who was born in Paris on this day in 1805, grew up in a French culture soaked with revolution. This revolution began in 1789 with the overthrow of the monarchy, and it birthed a reign of terror which only ended when Napoleon emerged as an undisputed leader and restored order. Napoleon began to build an empire, and many changes continued even after his death.

An avid student of history, Tocqueville decided to enter politics. Sensing that France needed to examine the American experience, he traveled to the United States, arriving in May 1831. He published the conclusions of his nine-month stay in 1835 in Democracy in America.

The “first thing” that struck his attention was “the religious aspect of the country.” The Christian faith was central to daily life: “The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.”

Perhaps reflecting on the experiences of France, Tocqueville saw what happens when people turn away from God: “When the religion of a people is destroyed, doubt gets hold of the higher powers of the intellect, and half paralyzes all the others.” He concluded that religion is important to any stable society, essential to provide a moral foundation.

His observations make sobering reading today. For the Christian, they point us back to the Bible, where we are reminded that the key to blessing, in every area of life, is to serve God.

Make sure God is your Lord…that you have submitted your life to Him and are living according to His Word. Don’t be deceived by the false promises of this world. Live for Him. Let Him bless you. Let others see the reality of the Christian faith through your example.