Freedom

On July 2, 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress meeting in the city of Philadelphia voted on a resolution that had been brought from the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, Virginia. Within that resolution was the sentiment that the "United Colonies" were in actuality "free and independent states." Presented to Congress on June 7, there was debate of the resolution and also the writing of a document which would state the causes for the separation from Great Britain.

That vote created the country of the United States of America and, on July 4th, the Congress adopted what had been written by a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson- the Declaration of Independence. And while the American Revolution was not yet accomplished (Washington lost New York not long after this time) the statements made clear to the rest of the world the rightness of the American cause.

233 years later we still struggle to achieve many of the the goals stated in that document; "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." In this time of economic downturn we often wonder how we can even consider pursuing happiness. Yet as followers of Jesus Christ we don't need to worry about such things, for we are promised in Scripture that once we accept Him and follow all these things will come to us in God's time.

True freedom is found with those who have nothing left to lose. If we are honest with ourselves we withhold something from God in Christ, something that we are unwilling to part with. And because of this we can never truly be free. It isn't until we have given all, sacrificed everything to Him, that we can be free people.

So this Independence Day let me challenge you- give it all, everything, to God.

And be set free...

Maranatha.