July 4, 1776. A brave step of faith in a surprising journey that stunned the world. Representatives from the thirteen colonies signed their names to a document declaring their national independence from Great Britain. The colonists had only a small trained army and a meager navy, yet by signing their names they essentially declared war against the mightiest and most experienced army and navy in the world.
Great Britain laughed at these foolish colonists, but not for long.
An independent nation, against all odds, at great hardship, and with much sacrifice, united and defeated the British. With that victory came the right, as Abraham Lincoln put it, to form a new nation, one conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal. This new nation was to be a republic.
Europe laughed because everyone knew that for a nation to be successful, it needed a singular ruler such as a king. Historically, democracies were short-lived. Europe ridiculed this plan by calling it, “The Great Experiment.” However, their laughter did not last long.
This brave new nation, the United States of America, contrary to its critics, grew in power and influence until it stood as a military and economic superpower; the envy of the world.
Again, this was accomplished with great hardship and sacrifice, but the result was worth the effort.
How did these “Davids,” these colonists, overcome the derision and challenges of the “Goliaths?” Part of the answer is that they knew if they were to achieve their dream that they could not do it alone, they needed help.
They needed God.
This new nation understood that to survive and prosper it needed to be dependent upon the Lord. To overcome the odds, the country needed to be, as it would later be called, “One Nation Under God.”
The architects of the new republic made certain to acknowledge who their source of blessing would be. God is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, in the U.S. Constitution, as well as in the constitutions of all 50 states. When they declared their independence, they also declared their dependence upon God.
July 4th is an excellent reminder to us. It should remind each of us that, like our nation, we need to heed God’s clear clarion call to follow Him. We know, though, that we will fail if we trust only in our own strength.
In Psalm 20:7 David proclaims: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
The prophet Isaiah reminds us that those who rely on the Lord will renew their strength and rise up like eagles do. (Isaiah 40:31).
Whatever major issues we may be facing, whatever ridicule we receive for our faith, whenever the Goliaths try to frighten us, we can count on the Lord to get us through those times and to establish a victory. We cannot do it alone. Like our founding fathers, we need to face our issues firmly, hand in hand with God as we claim the high ground and cede it to no one.
This Independence Day let us enjoy our families, our cookouts, and our patriotic parades.
Let us remember the great sacrifices that were made to allow us the liberty that we so enjoy.
Let us pray for the military whose members continue to protect those liberties.
Let us make time to offer a prayer of thanks to God Almighty for His abundant blessings, recognizing that we can keep our independence only as long as we are in dependence upon Him.
I am so thankful that we all at the House of Prayer have realized we need Jesus in every part of our life. Let’s remember that our true freedom is much more than earthly.
Jesus came and brought truth to all of us, the truth makes us free and whom the Son makes free is free indeed.
God bless,
-Pastor Tim Hart
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