In a few days, it will be July 4th, the birthday of our country. There will be parades, family picnics, and of course, fireworks. Some of the freedoms we cherish today are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to vote for elected officials, freedom to a fair trial, and freedom to gather together. These physical freedoms were gained through the sacrifices of those we now call our founding fathers and the colonists who followed them into the War for Independence in 1774.
The American colonists lived in oppression from the British monarchy. They were taxed unfairly, exploited economically, and prohibited from governing themselves. The British crown imposed many intolerable acts on the colonies which contributed to the growing desire for independence. It was only when the “founding fathers” took action that the 13 colonies banded together to eventually become the United States of America.
Once Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stepped up to sign their names on behalf of their respective colonies. Some of the more famous signers included John Hancock (MA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), and of course, Thomas Jefferson (VA).
Each of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were risking everything when they signed their names to this document as it was considered an act of treason against Great Britain. Here are the possible consequences faced by the signers:
- loss of property – forced displacements (abandoning their homes and lands) to avoid capture
- economic hardships – many were wealthy landowners who died penniless
- arrest and imprisonment – taken into captivity, mistreated, and tortured
- labeled as a traitor – immediate execution by hanging
It is clear that the founding fathers sacrificed everything to obtain the freedoms that we enjoy today. It is due to their dedication to and determination for freedom that we are able to celebrate the birthday of America on the 4th of July!
The American colonists secured our independence from Great Britain, enabling us to live in a free country today. However, the freedom promised in the Declaration – 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 – is not the only freedom we can enjoy in our lives. While the Declaration of Independence ultimately resulted in religious freedom in America, it cannot procure spiritual freedom for any individual.
Spiritual freedom is freedom from sin and its consequences. The greatest consequence of sin is that it creates a barrier between us and God because with sin comes guilt, shame, and fear. It corrupts our way of thinking, making it impossible to please God, and there isn’t any way we can remedy this for ourselves. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God loved us so much that He chose to have His beloved Son, Jesus, take the punishment for our sins on the cross (Romans 5:8).
Jesus is a lot like our founding fathers in that He made similar sacrifices to ensure we could have spiritual freedom. Like them, He experienced the following:
- Loss of property – “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38
- Jesus left the glory of heaven with all its beauty, joy, peace, adoration and praise to come to dwell among men (John 1:14), but unlike the founding fathers, He willingly gave up heaven to become our Saviour.
- Economic hardships – “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” -2 Corinthians 8:9
- As the Creator of the universe, everything belongs to God, but Jesus gave up everything and lived here without a home (Luke 9:58), frequently depending upon the charity of others for His needs during His 3 years of ministry on earth. Again, He endured this willingly.
- Arrest and Imprisonment – “And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” – Matthew 27:2
- Jesus was falsely accused, unjustly arrested, and given a mock trial (Luke 22:63). Although He could have called thousands of angels to free Him, He chose not to do so (Matthew 26:53).
- Labeled as a Traitor – “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” – Luke 23:2
- The religious leaders accused Jesus as proclaiming Himself as King and being a political threat to the emperor (Matthew 27:11-12).
Unlike America’s Declaration of Independence, our spiritual declaration of independence was only signed by one individual, and it was signed in His precious blood that He shed for you and me on the cross of Calvary. Jesus was crucified to take our punishment upon Himself. He was then buried and rose from the grave three days later to prove He was who He claimed to be… the Son of God. Jesus conquered sin and death, and He is the only One qualified to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14)!
There is only one way to have spiritual freedom, and that is by repenting of your sins (being sorry for them) and asking Jesus to forgive you and save you from the bondage of those sins! You’ll be immediately forgiven, and your name will be written down in God’s Book of Life, guaranteeing you a home in heaven one day.
As Americans, on July 4th we’ll be celebrating the freedoms we received when America was first born.
As a Christian, every day you can celebrate the spiritual freedom you receive from Jesus when you are born again!
Long ago in a far-away place,
Rough rugged timbers were raised to the sky
There hung a man suspended in space,
And though He was blameless, they left Him to die
Just to think of the cross moves me now
The nails in His hands, His bleeding brow
To think of the cross moves me now
It should have been me, It should have been me,
Instead I am free, I am free!
(from “When I Think of the Cross” by Ralph Carmichael)
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1
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Are you free from the burden of your sins? If not, today can be your independence day! Just call on Jesus to save you, and He will!