|
| |||||||||
Reprinted with permission. July 4th is a day that all Americans celebrate with pride and patriotism. It is a day that we as a nation celebrate our Independence, an Independence that was paid for, not by us, but by others. Others who gave their lives so that we may enjoy the life of a free nation. For most of my life July 4th was always a day that we would go to the church to watch the fireworks. We would come together as a church family to play games, eat homemade ice cream and watermelon, and to enjoy the fellowship. For me it was just another "fun holiday". Thinking about it now I realize that it is so much more than that. It is a day to honor those who gave their lives for this independence. A day to remember the freedoms we have and the blessing that come from that. For those of us who are Christians, this day is only an echo of what has already happened on a bigger scale. We were once slaves to sin, held captive by its chains. But Christ came this world to free us from those chains. He died on the cross so that we may receive forgiveness and have life everlasting, a life free from sin. Now how many of us, as Americans, would want to give up our freedoms and go back to the days prior to our Independence Day? I don't know any Americans who would want to give up their freedoms, in fact it seems like we are always trying to get more. Then my question is: If the freedom that we have as Christians is so much greater than the freedom we have as Americans, then why are so many Christians willing to give up the freedom that God grants us with? We hold on so tight to the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans, but are so lazy with those offered through Christ's death. I want to encourage all of us to remember the freedoms we have as Christians and to hold on to them with all the faith that we can muster up. So this July 4th, enjoy the freedom we as a nation have, but remember the freedom and the life that was given for you as a Christian. Kevin Fitzgerald
|
| ||||||||
