4th of July Message

It’s Independence Day. So What?

Today I’m going to declare my independence! That’s right, I’m declaring myself free and no one is gong to take that away from me.

Just out of curiosity, have you every watched Braveheart? The main character in that movie was a warrior named William Wallace. He was a Scottish patriot that led a band of rebels in a revolt against an overwhelming English army. I remember distinctly when Wallace was preparing for battle and he yells: “I see before me an army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. You are free, free from bondage, free from flesh and free to love. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?”

A soldier looking across the battlefield answers in fear, “Fight against that? No, we will run, and we will live.”

Wallace responds, “Ay, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, you would be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”

Wallace asked a very profound question that day, “What will you do with your freedom?”

In life’s struggles, you are at the forward edge of the battlefield and you have to make a choice. Are you going to fight or flee? The fact is…freedom comes at a cost!

The journey for a free America started back in the 1600’s. England established a new colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and by the mid 1700’s the 13 colonies were established. The British government oppressed the colonists with so many taxes to the point that they revolted. So here we go—the start of an American Revolution. Why? Because American’s have a Spartan gene that doesn’t take kindly to tyranny, that’s why.

Our forefathers were hard-core men—I mean bad to the bone. They were the Spartans in that era, men who understood the power of God. They also understood their odds as they faced the most powerful army and navy in the present world. The colonists were no match but they still chose to fight. It was a bloody and gut wrenching battle and by some miracle, the colonists were victorious. I believe it was by sheer grit and the power of a relentless God. The Declaration of Independence was signed on the 4th of July 1776 and declares that our freedoms are a gift of God and that our creator grants them.

Today, we have the freedom of religion. No one can tell us when, how, or what to worship. We can gather together and read God’s War Manual (aka: the Bible) all day long without reprisal. America is the freest country in this world—few nations have ever known such liberties. That’s why many brave men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today, we stand as a free nation under God.

So back to the original question, “What will you do with your freedom?” Are you going to fight or flee? Is there something in your life that is keeping you from declaring your independence?

God, the Commander of the universe is calling you to fight—to fight hard and be relentless for your faith, family and freedom.

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