If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV

President Abraham Lincoln was passionate about ending slavery. When seven Southern States, wishing to keep slavery, seceded from the Union to form a new nation, the President and the Northern States accepted the challenge to keep the country united and free from slavery. This led to the outbreak of war between the two steadfast factions. The commitment to abolish slavery was so strong that many citizens bore arms against their own family members. The Civil War lasted from April 12, 1861, to April 9, 1865, resulting in the loss of 625,000 lives in the ensuing violent conflicts. Ultimately, the Southern States were vanquished, and slavery was eradicated. The passionate desire to rid America of the evils of slavery won a victory for the North. Our promise today assures us that if our belief is strong enough to spur action, and we openly advocate for Christ and his cause, we too will win a victory, and be saved.

photo by chris-chow-unsplash

Facts from -A Brief Overview of the American Civil War  By James McPherson, Battlefields.org November 20, 2008  Updated August 24, 2021