Independence Day ~ 4th of July

Now the Lord is the Spirit, 

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17

The 4th of July in America is a time of celebration with parades, fireworks, cookouts; a day off from work; a long weekend. However on July 4, 1776, under the threat of death, fifty-six brave men signed a Declaration of Independence from England. Those who signed, knew their signature would be a sacrifice.

Of those fifty-six men who signed:

• nine died of wounds during the war; 
• five were captured and imprisoned; 
• several lost their wives, children or entire family
• they were all victims of manhunts  
• driven from their homes;
• twelve had their homes burned; 
• seventeen lost everything they owned. 

Freedom came at a high price for the men who founded our country.

The Declaration of Independence tells us: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 
Our founding fathers recognized the God of the Bible when they formed our governmental system.

Most of the patriotic hymns acknowledge and give praise to God.

Francis Scott Key wrote our National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner" during the war of 1812:

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land,
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, In God is our trust.

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" was written by Samuel Smith, 1831 and sung at a 4th of July celebration in Boston, that same year.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our king.

America is known as "the land of the free" however freedom has never been free, it comes with a cost, which is often blood. God set the example when He purchased our freedom from sin at a high cost. God offers each of us salvation as a free gift through the blood of His son Jesus. Our debt has been paid.

The freedom the world offers is temporary ~ spiritual freedom is eternal.

I'll close with some wise words by Abraham Lincoln - “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right”.

And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

 

Have a blessed day my friends.