When Jesus Christ was being crucified, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). In the next few hours, He was savagely beaten, mocked, humiliated and eventually murdered. For the next three days and three nights, the Son of God lay dead in the grave.

In the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the crucifixion of Christ was the great turning point for the protagonist, Judah Ben-Hur. After spending years seeking revenge against the Romans for unjustly imprisoning him and his family, Ben-Hur’s desire for revenge subsides after he sees the example of Christ. This sudden change of heart in the heroic main character is not merely an interesting plot twist. Author Lew Wallace was also pointing to a personal decision each individual in America needed to make.

Wallace was a Civil War general, ambassador, state senator, state governor, novelist, inventor and lawyer. He fought at the Battle of Shiloh; he was present at the trials of President Abraham Lincoln’s murderer; and he attended one of the most famous early war crimes tribunal of the Civil War. Yet he will always be remembered as the author of Ben-Hur. It is still one of the best-selling American novels of all time.

The incredible story of why he wrote the book and the message he sought to convey to America demonstrate the key to how the nation could be healed today.

Friendly Challenge

America was deeply divided in 1876. Reconstruction was nearing its end, and the nation was still experiencing bitter political and social problems. That same year, Lew Wallace boarded a train to Indianapolis, Indiana, heading to the Third National Soldiers Reunion. That evening on the train, he ran into Col. Robert Ingersoll, the most famous atheist in America. For two hours, Ingersoll waxed eloquent disputing the existence of God. Wallace then took up the challenge to prove for himself whether God is real or not.

Wallace was not religious and had not really considered the matter before. But some events of antiquity had interested him, and he had written a short manuscript about the wise men who visited Christ as a child. The conversation left him in deep thought, as he later wrote:

Yet here was I now moved as never before, and by what? The most outright denials of all human knowledge of God, Christ, heaven …. Was the colonel right? What had I on which to answer yes or no? He had made me ashamed of my ignorance: and then—here is the unexpected of the affair—as I walked on in the cool darkness, I was aroused for the first time in my life to the importance of religion. … I thought of the manuscript in my desk. Its closing scene was the child Christ in the cave by Bethlehem: Why not go on with the story down to the crucifixion? That would make a book and compel me to study everything of pertinency; after which, possibly, I would be possessed of opinions of real value.

The subsequent study of the history, politics and life of Christ consummated in the novel Ben-Hur. Wallace wrote the book while he was governor of the territory of New Mexico. After working late each night studying and writing for four years, he published the book in 1880. Wallace later said: “It only remains to say that I did as resolved, with results—first, the book Ben-Hur, and second, a conviction amounting to absolute belief in God and the divinity of Christ.”

A Tale of Christ

Most of us know the name Ben-Hur from the 1959 film adaptation starring Charlton Heston; his bare-chested heroics led the way to 11 Academy Awards. However, the novel was written during some very trying times in America, and Wallace projected the solution to America’s problems through the characters and events in the novel.

Ben-Hur is unique because it tells the story of Christ’s life as He crosses paths with the protagonist. Judah Ben-Hur is a wealthy, influential Jewish businessman in Jerusalem. After a long friendship with Messala—a new military leader in Judea—ends over political differences, Ben-Hur is falsely accused by Messala of attempting to kill a Judean governor. Ben-Hur, his mother and sister are imprisoned unjustly, causing him to vow revenge on Messala.

It was this quest for vengeance that kept Ben-Hur alive through the torturous years ahead. He was sent to the galleys, and while on a long prisoner march north through Nazareth, he met Jesus Christ, who saves his life by giving him water. Miracle after miracle occurs as Judah Ben-Hur survives a sea battle, becomes the consul’s adopted son, becomes a champion charioteer, and wins his freedom. Finally, he returns to Judea to kill Messala. Messala dies in a chariot race that Judah wins, and he realizes revenge is a bitter victory.

Coinciding with Ben-Hur’s return is the ministry of Christ. He hears of the miracles and teachings of Christ but does not listen. Finding that his mother and sister have leprosy, he seeks after Christ for their healing. When considering rebellion against the Roman government, Ben-Hur witnesses Christ’s crucifixion. The example of Christ not desiring revenge on His murderers changes Ben-Hur’s heart, and he repents of his path of hate. He returns home to find that his mother and sister have been healed.

The struggle of Judah Ben-Hur to choose between revenge or forgiveness is not just a narrative of Christ’s life or a romantic Christian novel, but rather a representation of how all America could find healing. The moral choices presented in Ben-Hur are a reflection of the complex decisions America faced following the Civil War.

Repentance Not Reconstruction

Following the North’s victory in the Civil War, the nation was still deeply divided. The Union was saved, but there were still no solutions to the cause of the war. The North and South were still two distinct societies. The slaves were free, but no one knew how to integrate them into society. After President Lincoln’s assassination perhaps the only individual who had the prestige and character to restore unity was gone. Northern troops still occupied the South, ensuring Northern policies were implemented and order was maintained. The controversial and disastrous policy of Reconstruction was running its course, deepening the wounds of the war.

In 1876, while Wallace was researching for Ben-Hur, the most controversial presidential election in United States history occurred. Both Republicans and Democrats claimed victory, and there were four states with disputed vote tallies. Some believed another Civil War would erupt, since the parties were split between the North (Republican) and the South (Democrat). Eventually, an Electoral Commission, created by Congress, decided in favor of the Republicans but only after severe concessions, including the end of Reconstruction. And yet racial tensions in America only increased. It would take decades to make any progress in healing the nation.

This is just one example of the many events that have caused deep division in America. Wallace saw these issues and realized that Christian virtues were the path to a brighter future. John Swansburg, editorial director of Slate magazine, explained how Ben-Hur helped many Americans move past the bitter divisions of war:

Men and women on both sides of the Mason-Dixon could enjoy Wallace’s tale of martial virtue …. The story of Ben-Hur’s success is, in part, the story of how Americans put the divisions of the war behind them in the waning days of Reconstruction.

Wallace was never a member of a church or religious denomination, but he did recognize the authority of the Bible. Ben-Hur illustrates many of the principles Wallace learned. The novel contains many themes, but the situation of America in the late 1870s is permanently imprinted on the narrative set in ancient Judea. Americans could relate the story of Judah Ben-Hur forgiving and repenting of his hateful ways to their own stance on North-South relations. America did not need Reconstruction; it needed repentance.

Healing the Union

Ben-Hur itself was not the solution, nor was the particular brand of religion Wallace held dear. He did not fully understand the true doctrines of Christianity, but he did find the solution. He began a journey to find God and accepted the authority of the Bible once he proved it true. That is a quest all Americans must begin if the Union is to be saved today. The fundamental problems that have threatened the nation are spiritual in nature and require a spiritual solution. The problems of racism, inequality and corrupt government will not be solved without applying the many principles found in the Bible. Emotional demonstrations against the government, or an institution, will only yield more conflict. We must individually seek God and look to His Word for direction.

At the heart of the matter is believing in an authority and power that transcends anything physical. Believing in God means believing that obedience to biblical principles will yield the results God promises, regardless of the physical circumstances.

Matthew 5 records the Sermon on the Mount, probably the most powerful sermon recorded from Christ’s ministry. It contains many vital lessons that America can use today (verses 5-9):

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Humility, righteousness, mercy and peacemaking: These are attitudes and actions that Christ tells us will bring blessings. How often do we see these in news headlines today? Imagine if instead of protesters shouting, looting, and making emotionally charged accusations, we saw people filled with mercy and forgiveness, individuals striving for peace.

Christ continued His instruction in the sermon explaining how to handle conflicts and misunderstandings (verses 38-44):

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Christ instructs us, if you are offended, turn the other cheek. If a man sues you for your coat, give him your cloak. If a friend needs help walking a mile, go with him twice that distance. Instead of hating your enemies, Christ commands you to love them, do good deeds toward them, and pray for those who persecute you.

Can you imagine an America where bitter division was solved by loving the enemy? Instead of exacting retribution, everyone forgave the offense. These are not mere platitudes but practical solutions to everyday conflicts and national division.

America was in desperate need of healing in 1876, when Lew Wallace began his journey to prove God’s existence. Today, we find America facing tremendous challenges. Many of the same wounds that ailed America over a century ago are still with us. The only way to heal the Union is for each individual to seek repentance and follow the principles found in the Bible.

Lew Wallace saw the need for a nationwide change of heart to solve the problems in his day. Unfortunately, the bitterness of racial division and political differences prevail again today. The real solution can be found in God’s Word, as editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in his September 2015 article “How to Solve America’s Race Problems.” Believe it or not, America has an intimate history with God, but most have forgotten. To know more about America’s heritage and future, read our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.