Independence Day

“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.”

How great is that?  How amazing is it that we live in a country where we can eat whatever food we want, we can drive down whatever street we want, we can protest on that same street if we want, and we can worship whatever we want?  Some may disagree with me completely, saying we live in a country of racism, oppression, hate….but my calling for this blog is not to argue politics….but to spread the love of Christ.

So on this Independence Day I’m going to reflect on who truly gave me my independence.  Now don’t get angry with me, mad at me, saying it was the men and women in uniform who died for this country that gave you your independence.  Because I know all about that.  Trust me.  I spent months of my life in hot deserts, on cold ships floating in the middle of nowhere, separated from my family and loved ones.  I served as a United States Marine for 14 years.  But what I’m talking about is a higher independence.  A higher freedom.  I guess you could call it spiritual independence and freedom.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  Jesus died so that we may live free, without burden.  Sins are the shackles that hold us down, that keep us from understanding and truly experiencing this freedom.  We all have sin.  I have sin…..and before I turned over my life to Jesus that sin drug me down.  Now, through the blood of Christ we are FREE.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren;  only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through the love serve one another (Galatians 5:13).”  In I Peter 2:16 Peter says, “Act as free men and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.  Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

I woke up this morning humming the hymn “It is well with my soul.”  How appropriate on a day where we celebrate our independence as a nation that I’m thinking of a song that is so calming, so truthful as to where we can be when we surrender to Christ, and gain that ultimate freedom.  “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:32, 36).”

So here is the bottom line….the point of all of this.  The love of Jesus Christ WILL set you free.  Not fireworks, not hot dogs and hamburgers…..not those obnoxious American flag pants….you know you have all seen them.

But on this Independence Day I will summon my inner Isaiah, for I believe this is my new purpose in life, my calling.  My purpose that will maybe one day lead one of you to the freedom that I have found.  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1).”

I’m not a prophet.  I’m not a great leader.  I’m not a minister, a pastor, a deacon…..anything like that.  But what I am is a follower of Christ.  And as a follower of Christ it is my job to get out and spread the word any way that I can.  God uses our gifts, gifts we may not even know that we possess.  So on this July 4th, 2017, on the birthday of our Great Nation, I pray you have the inner peace, and TRUE freedom that was promised and given to us those many years ago, when Jesus Christ said, “Tetelestai, It is Finished,” died, and 3 days later pushed that stone aside and walked out of that tomb, defeating the devil and death……For all of us.