Where the spirit
of the Lord is, there is liberty. –2nd Cor. 3:12
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| photo by C. Castle |
Today
is Independence Day, the fourth of July, a day set aside to commemorate the
adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 by the Continental
Congress, whereby the 13 states declared themselves a new nation. They called
the new nation The United States of America, and avowed they would no longer be
a part of the British Empire.
The
cost of freedom from Britain was not small. One in 20 able-bodied, white, free
males died during the war: 6,800 were killed
in action, 6,100 wounded, 17,000 died of disease, 20,000 were taken prisoner,
and this is just the American soldier count! In addition, almost every one of
the founding fathers lost most, or all, of their personal wealth funding the
war.
Because
of the actions of these brave men, today you and I live in a country that is
free. We are not under the tyranny of a dictator. We are not under the thumb of
Communism or Fascism. We are not under the dictates of kings or despots who
answer to no one. We are free to elect the men and women we want to represent
us in this great country of ours, and we have a say in how our country is run.
And
because we live in a free country, we are able worship as we choose. Here in
America we often take freedom of worship for granted. In other parts of the
world Christians are not as lucky. They are forbidden by civil laws to worship,
persecuted, and even killed for their faith.
As
Christians we also have a liberty others don’t. Ours is not a liberty granted
by our founding fathers or other men. But liberty only God could provide us. We
have liberty from sin. This doesn’t mean we’re perfect. Far from it. All have sinned and come short of the glory
of God. Liberty from sin means that the Lord, Jesus Christ, has paid a price
for our freedom from the punishment of sin. He has given his life to insure we
may one day live in a new world, free from the tyranny of sin and Satan’s grip.
So
this July 4th remember to celebrate all the freedoms we have in America. Freedoms that were bought so
dearly with American lives. And thank the Father for the freedom Jesus bought
us on the cross. After all, there is no greater sacrifice than to lay down your
life for another.
May
God Bless America, and you, on this day of liberty and freedom.
