If one were to survey the teen-aged student base and ask them to state the date that the Declaration of Independence was signed, I am afraid there would be severe disappointment in the outcome of that survey.
I am only saying this because I have asked a few students this past week and none of them knew the year, and only a couple of them knew it was July 4th. However, it should be well known that on July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson’s well-written document declaring our independence from Britain was signed, thus initiating the Revolutionary War that led this nation to its independence.
We do not have to enjoy history to know this; we should only appreciate our ancestors who established it.
We do not have to invest to keep our freedom; we can simply just be thankful.
We do not have to agree with everything that is taking place in our nation to be a patriot; just be a praying patriot.
There are many people who disrespect and defile this nation with their actions, verbal lashes, and attitudes; yet these same people absorb the benefits this nation gives them.
Matthew records a story in chapter 12 of his gospel account that tells us Jesus cast a demon from a blind and mute man, who then could both see and speak. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out this demon in the name of Beelzebub (the devil). Jesus proceeds with these words, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house that is divided against itself will not stand…”
The more internal conflict that develops and the more divided this nation becomes; the closer it gets to desolation.
What happens when an employee doesn’t have loyalty or give respect to the company he works for? Not only does he become useless to the company, he likely causes irreversible collateral damage until he quits or gets fired.
What happens when workers go on strike? Or when the leaders of a company cannot agree? The company suffers greatly.
When the mother and father stand against one another, the entire family divides, and the repercussions are enormous and long-lasting.
When a Christian person submerges in perpetual sin, the person will not stand. Either the sin goes or the faith diminishes.
Can you imagine if the man that Jesus healed began to speak blasphemies against Him? Firstly, the Pharisees would have used that for certainty that Jesus was not the Son of God. Secondly, the man who had been delivered from his deficiencies by Jesus would most likely not have remained that way for long before he was back in his original state.. However, this did not happen. Any man in the Scriptures who was healed by Jesus glorified Him with all the praise and honor they could muster. This is because when Jesus heals, it is true, and the one healed will always recognize that God is worthy to be praised, and that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. It is this principle that has built the kingdom of God in His people. God’s people will stand for Him.
Let us recognize what God has done for the United States of America. Let us remember that desolation will come to a divided nation.
We can disagree with decisions made in our country, but we cannot turn our back on it.
We need to pray for our leaders. We need to vocalize our opinions. We need to support this county as a faithful citizen should. We need to confront the issues instead of back-biting with anger. We need to bring solutions to the table instead of problems. We need to share the good news of Jesus as much as we can…we are free to do so.
This is a call to stand.
Stay encouraged and God bless.
