The
fourth of July is a day of celebration in the United States. Picnics, parades
and fireworks are all a part of the fanfare and commemoration of Independence
Day. Two hundred thirty-eight years after those brave men first put their
signatures on the Declaration of Independence, we are still celebrating.
Independence Day; it is not just to remember the date and the signing of that
piece of paper, but to consider the sacrifice of those who believed a free
nation was worth fighting for.
Colonial Christians who favored independence from England had a
slogan that became a battle cry. “No King but King Jesus!” Having chosen to
come across the ocean for the opportunity to worship God freely, these men and
women wanted to continue free from the rule of England’s king. The right for
each individual to choose God and how they worshiped Him was at the core of our
founding fathers’ fight. Although there were political and social reasons to
become a nation of our own, there can be no question that God was at the center
of the beginnings of what we now celebrate.
Each of us has a similar fight for independence in our spiritual
lives. There are actually several areas that we will need to battle to win our
freedom. We will also have to stand firm to hold onto that freedom. But in all
cases we will have the strength and power of God Himself to win the battles and
hold onto victory.
The first battle we will face is the battle against sin and death.
This battle is actually won by total surrender. Sin and death were conquered on
the cross by Jesus Christ. He has already done all the work. Salvation comes by
trusting in Him alone. (Romans 10:9-10 ESV) The battle that we face is
letting go of our good works and acknowledging that only the finished work of
Jesus Christ can lead us to God the Father and to heaven. We make our
declaration of dependence on this finished work.
Once we’ve been born again we will daily battle temptation
and sin. There will always be opportunities to choose to give into temptation,
but the born-again spirit desires to choose right. Again this battle is one not
won by digging in your heels in determining to avoid all of the ‘don’ts’ of a
code of behavior. The apostle John wrote “For
the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ.” (John 1:17 ESV)
The apostle Paul also speaks of this. “God
who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not
of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit
gives life.” (2
Corinthians 3:6 ESV) The Holy Spirit brings abundant grace to believers. Grace
is not only receiving forgiveness when we sin, but grace instills a desire
within our hearts to choose God’s way. It’s all dependent on simply receiving
the love He has already shown us.
Another battle that can be difficult for the believer is the
battle between pleasing men and pleasing God. We all have a desire to be liked
by those we come in contact with. This is not necessarily bad. But when the
choice must be made to please men or to follow God, we must always choose God.
The apostles faced this choice when they stood before a council of rulers and
were told to no longer preach the gospel. “ (Acts 5:29 ESV) The apostle Paul spoke of choosing God over
man. “For am I now seeking the
approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still
trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 ESV) It is imperative to choose the heart of God.
Nowhere in Scripture is it recorded that someone was commended for having a
heart after the crowd. David was made king because he had a heart after
God. Our hearts must also yearn for God.
In all of these instances the power to win the battle comes from
God Himself. We never need to fight in our own strength, but rather admit our
total dependence on what the Lord has already provided. When we receive and
walk in His provision we walk in victory.
So this Independence Day as you meet with friends, have a cook
out, watch the fireworks or light some sparklers, think about the men and women
who fought and sacrificed so much that our nation could have this independence.
Then take a moment to think about the independence from the powers of darkness
that was won for us by Jesus Christ on the cross. Thank God for what you have
and rely on Him to continue walking in that freedom. We can all make our
declaration of dependence, “No King but King Jesus!”
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