Celebrating Freedom

​The United States of America will be 245 years old this 4th of July. Many men and women have sacrificed much including their lives just to give us the freedoms we enjoy today. In 1776 the approximately population of the nation was 2.5 million, as of July 4th, 2020 there were approximately 332 million people living in America. This growth, along with the opportunities we all are able to pursue were made possible by the ultimate sacrifice of some 666,400 men and women, who gave their all for us.
As we celebrate our freedom this 4th of July, with fireworks, picnic, family get togethers, and many other fun activities; let us not forget how we get to this point. How we got to be a nation of such rich heritage. A nation with bumps and bruises, who has not always done right, but who has tried to be on the side of right in the end. This is what we are celebrating on the 4th of July.
However, I would remind us all there is something even greater we should celebrate on this day. A great freedom, greater than any fireworks show, or picnic, camping trip, or family get together. A freedom which in the end will provide you with ultimate freedom. Something you can celebrate for all eternity. This freedom was something our founding fathers believed in. Benjamin Rush, sign of the Declaration of Independence declared, “My only hope of salvation is in the infinite, transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!”  Mr. Rush understood salvation was only through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. It was His shed blood that washed each of us clean from our sins, giving us the opportunity to have a place in heaven with Him, if we will say, “Yes.”
While many have given much so we might celebrate one day a year; Christ gave all so we can celebrate for all eternity with Him. Those who have gone before us understood this, as can be seen throughout our history and in many of our national monuments. Engraved on the aluminum capstone of the Washington Monument is the Latin phrase Laus Deo, which means, “Praise be to God” Lining the walls of the stairwell are cared tributed blocks that declare such biblical phrases as “Holiness to the Lord”; “Search the Scriptures”; “The memory of the just is blessed”; and “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart form it.” The U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Jefferson & Lincoln Memorials also have many biblical inscriptions, carvings, paintings and images.
As our focus this 4th of July is about celebrating our nations birthday; we each need to ask ourselves an important question: “If I died today where would I spend eternity?” While no one wants to think about death, the Bible reminds us “it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment” (Heb. 9:27, CSB). Therefore, each one of us must be ready when that day comes; so, “If I died today where would I spend eternity?”
The Apostle Paul encouraged us when he wrote to the Roman church stating, “But, God, demonstrated or proved, or showed just how much, love us, even though we were still living in our sinful life. We were not really worth much to others, but God saw something good, and sent is His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ into this world to die on the Cross for you and me” (Rom. 5:8, emphasis added). Sin separated us from the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and caused us to owe a great debit, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).
However, God’s love is worth celebrating, His Son is worth celebrating. Why? Because, God’s free gift to you is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23). God allowed His Son to become sin, One Who never knew sin, to be sin for us. In other words, Christ took our place, your place, paid your price, cleared your slat with God so you are Righteous in God’s eye (2 Cor. 5:21). It is because of Christ’s blood we are made free; eternally free. This is a freedom worth celebrating.