July 4th, 2020

Happy independence day to all
This weekend we celebrate the independence of our nation. It is a time that we take time to recall the principles of freedom that led to our declaration proclaiming our desire and intent to be a sovereign nation not beholding to, or under the yoke of a European monarch.  What is sometimes forgotten is that there was a span of several years, battles, and lives sacrificed in order to make such a declaration a reality. Our countries declaration of independence was proclaimed on the 4th of July 1776. The final battle making such a declaration an accomplished fact occurred in October of 1781.  

When I think of our independence story as a nation, I can't help but draw a parallel to our Christian walk. There was a day in our lives when we declared our freedom from the yoke of slavery to sin.  Our declaration was signed by our proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and entering the waters of baptism in obedience to His instructions. However, while free from the yoke and consequence of sin, our battle with sin is a process that will require a long life struggle. The difference between our declaration as children of God and our birth as a nation is that our victory is a sure thing.

That it is a sure thing does not in anyway mean our battles with our old nature are easy. We will fight with discontent, anger, envy, lust, gossip, and resentment until we find ourselves at our Lord's feet. Even when some aspects of our old nature seem to be completely eliminated, they can attack our life if we drop our guard. If we recall, thirty three years after the British defeat at Yorktown in 1781, thus sealing our independence as a sovereign nation; British forces burned our capital in 1814 when they again invaded our shores. 

Our battles with our old nature, like the battles for our nation, are not won by an individual but by reliance on others. We not only have the enabling power of the Holy Trinity in this live long battle, we have each other. 

So as we celebrate our independence today, let us remember that like our independence from sin, it is more than "my freedom" but "our freedom" and continually work to face our battles as a body.
Happy independence day
​Vic