July 30, 2024

“A Price We Will Not Pay”

Ronald Reagan has long been a favorite of many American patriots. I have quoted him often. His profound wisdom, framed with a simple eloquence the common man could understand, called to something deep in the genes of freedom-loving Americans. I share some of his quotes with you today, not because I am a Reagan fan, which obviously I am, but because they are so apropos for today. Though he spoke these words 60 years ago, it is not too late to heed his warnings and apply his wisdom. 

These quotes are chosen from his speech at the 1964 Republican Convention, titled, “A Time For Choosing.” Most of it was actually from a speech he gave throughout the country, not as a politician - he wasn’t yet in government - but as a prominent citizen who loved and cared for America. He simply added a few things for Barry Goldwater and the convention. You can read the entire speech here. Regarding self-governance versus totalitarianism and government control, Reagan said:

“Not too long ago, two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story, one of my friends turned to the other and said, ‘We don’t know how lucky we are.’ And the Cuban stopped and said, ‘How lucky you are? I had someplace to escape to.’ And in that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there’s no place to escape. This is the last stand on earth.

“And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except the sovereign people, is still the newest and the most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man.

“This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.

“You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between a left or right. Well, I’d like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There’s only an up or down - [up] man’s old-aged dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.

“…Well, I, for one, resent it when a representative of the people refers to you and me, the free men and women of this country, as ‘the masses.’ This is a term we haven’t applied to ourselves in America. But beyond that, ‘the full power of centralized government,’ this was the very thing the Founding Fathers sought to minimize. They knew that governments don’t control things. A government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy.”

Reagan’s Wit

Amen! Reagan’s wit and humor also came through in the speech. At one point, he said, “Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.”

On another matter he stated:

“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear. 

“Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on earth.”

Hilarious! And speaking on choosing peace at the cost of surrendering to tyranny, Reagan said:

“You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. [A reference to Patrick Henry’s famous speech] If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin - just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the Cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard ‘round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn’t die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well it’s a simple answer after all.

“You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, ‘There is a price we will not pay.’

“‘There is a point beyond which they must not advance.’ And this - this is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater’s ‘peace through strength.’ Winston Churchill said, ‘The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we’re spirits - not animals.’ And he said, ‘There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty.’

“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

“We’ll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we’ll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”

So profound. 

Many are fighting for these freedoms on the government mountain; we must join them by fighting on our knees. Our responsibility is as great or greater than theirs, for we know America was founded to spread the gospel of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth, and it is for this we fight. We must pray for and support our godly government leaders, and according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3, do so “first” (“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”) 

Though we have lost much ground, we are winning the battle to reclaim and preserve our destiny and freedoms, and to ensure God’s coming worldwide harvest IN OUR GENERATION. We will persevere in agreeing with and decreeing Christ’s words in Matthew 6:10, “Thy Kingdom, come! Will of God, be!” No religious or political spirit will stop us from doing so. 

Pray with me:

Father, Yeshua meant what He said when He told us to command these things. Religion can say otherwise, the political spirit and its political correctness can demand our silence and submission, but we have the Book. It is our flawless manual, and the words of Jesus are as alive and powerful as they were when He uttered them. He needs no correction, and He certainly won’t be muzzled. We honor them again today, “planting the heavens,” seeding the atmosphere with them (Isaiah 51:16 NKJV). 

We decree over America, “Kingdom authority of Jesus, come!” Come in love; come, drawing hearts to You, not forcing them to do so. Your love will win them, Your blood will cleanse them, Your truth will enlighten and free them. 

“Your will, which is for the accomplishment of all these things, be done!” Heal, free, liberate, awaken, and release personal destinies. Free from that which steals, kills, and destroys. Your plan is abundant life (John 10:10); Your purposes are good, not evil, and they are hope-filled (Jeremiah 29:11). 

We command the coming forth of these things in our nation. We command them over our upcoming elections, over our government, our schools, and yes, over our homes and streets. We command them over our churches and businesses, our military and media. Come with radical love and explosive power. 

All of this we pray and decree in the authority of Yeshua, Your only begotten Son, our Savior, King over all the earth, and ruler over the nations. Amen. 

Our decree:

We decree Christ’s Kingdom is ever-increasing and is without end!

You may read President Reagan’s speech in its entirety here.

Click on the link below to watch the full video.