Happy Independence Day

Today is the day where we celebrate the birth of our nation. This is the day when The Declaration of Independence was signed. No longer were we going to be governed by England and we were "free" to choose our own rights and laws. This was done in a building we call today, Independence Hall located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1776.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Philadelphia where our country was founded. I never realized that our country had gained its independence because at the heart of the people it was out of defiance to its mother country. It was kind of an eye opener to me. Prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a few men gathered one night, very late in the evening in a building called Carpenters' Hall to discuss how they were going to free themselves from the rule of England.
Independence is an interesting concept. The dictionary defines it as: freedom from control, influence, support, aid or the like of others. I am grateful that we have the freedom that we do. That we are no longer under the governing authorities that don't allow us the choices that we have. On July 4, 2008 we are under the rule of our own government and they are making laws that I personally don't agree with. We are losing in our win for freedom. Freedom is actually a dangerous thing when given to the wrong people. The leaders who set our nations Constitution in place did so with Biblical principles that were to protect each citizen. Today its so over read that we've distorted the original meaning.

For example, we've had the freedom, via credit cards, to buy whatever our heart's desire. Whether it be houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, vacations and so on, we have buried ourselves in debt. Our "freedom" to spend has led us to be "In-deep-in-debt". Our freedom to want more of the American Dream has shut down our factories and now we are dependent on foreign products, including oil to maintain our luxurious life style. I admit, I do drive a foreign car, but we balance that out by Jeff driving American. Think about most of our products, clothing even much of our fruit is imported from other countries. We are a "Dependent" nation now. Our freedom has even brought us to place of global warming. Now we are slaves to the environment. All the world for that matter.

This leads me to the spiritual take on all of this. Psalm 119:45 says, "I walk about in freedom, for I have sought your precepts." Precepts is God's "constitution" that He gave the Israelites to live by so they would have long, successful, and healthy lives. Man has always wanted "to do it his way", in the words of Frank Sinatra. God gave us restrictions because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, we live in a world where things can hurt you. Jeremiah 34:17 says, "17 "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD -'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."

Freedom is an interesting word. Freedom in extreme can lead to enslavement. Our freedom to choose and do as we will can lead us down a path that does lead us to "independence" or in another term "isolation" not only physically, but spiritually as well.

I have a friend who has chosen to live her life as she pleases. Her whole life has been about her "freedom to choose." The choices that she has made have left her with the scars of abortion, a divorce, abusive relationships, over her head in debt, unhealthy habits such as smoking and drug abuse and now she is "independent" or isolated from all relationships except the one she has chosen. All of this is because she wanted the freedom to do it her way. Now her freedom has landed her in the prison of her apartment bound by the shackles of guilt and shame. It would seem too that her mind has been bound as well as she can't even comprehend or understand that Jesus came to free her from ALL of those things. In Luke 4, Jesus was telling the people of his reason for coming quoting from the book of Isaiah. Verses 18-19 say this, "18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Something interesting just happened. As I was looking up a scripture in 2 Corinthians, I accidentally looked up 1 Corinthians 3:17. The verse I read said this, "17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." That is what we do when we are given "freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17 says that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. If we have invited Jesus into our lives, we are those temples where the Spirit dwells. The concept of freedom can not be obtained until we recognize that Jesus is the only one who can free us from ourselves and from the sin that holds us in slavery. Galatians 5:1 says, "1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

We as Believers have been given complete freedom as long as we live in Christ. The word "believer" means that we believe Jesus has the power to overcome all sin. Living in Christ means that we live in love, joy, peace, hope, health, prosperity, wholeness, etc. All of the things we are searching for are right there for us, if we believe and live bound by the freedom Jesus came to give us.

Freedom and independence is not all what its cracked up to be. There are boundaries within freedom to live a life with no regrets. God does not want us to be independent from Him. He wants us to live dependent upon Him. He knows our future. His plan is for freedom, freedom from sin. Are you truly free today? Have a blessed day celebrating the birth of our nation with your family and friends. Even with all its issues, I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. God BLESS America!