Author: John Page 160 of 166

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

II Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaims: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  Through these words, the Founding Fathers demonstrated a firm understanding that the Lord was the sole source of equality and liberty.

Our equal creation by the Lord is the basis of our equality.  As creatures formed in the Lord’s image, there is no natural difference in status between us in the Lord’s eyes.  The source of our liberty is also the same for all people.  True freedom is not given by a proclamation or a president; it is not given by a government or governor; it is not given by a kingdom or a king; it is not given by a manifest or a monarch.  It is given, instead, by Christ himself.  And the rights He gives us are unalienable.

The more we rely on the government to be the source of our equality and our liberty, the more we remove ourselves from the true foundation that provides us these important national characteristics.  In fact, trusting in a government apart from God places us in a precarious national position that ignores the basic truths upon which equality and liberty are actually secured.  This includes rights manufactured by man that are not from God.  Relying on a false foundation produces a fragile freedom.

Failure to rely on our ultimate authority fosters a reality of untimely authoritarianism.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA WOULD RETURN TO THE INTENDED BIBLICAL BASIS FOR OUR EQUALITY AND LIBERTY.  It is self evident that drifting away from this Biblical basis places both at risk, as we recklessly drift towards a yoke of bondage.

I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The Bible makes it clear that the Lord is ultimately and eternally trustworthy.  Indeed, He desires that our faith would lead us into His caring arms, both for our temporal well-being and our eternal well-being.  Do today’s Christian Americans rely upon the Lord like we should?  Christians in early America certainly did so, and their faith was rewarded with protection and provision.

The authors of the Declaration of Independence staked their lives, their fortunes, and their reputations on the concepts contained in that formative and foundational document.   They did so eagerly and willingly, knowing that they were following God’s will and confident in the Lord’s accompanying presence.  The closing sentence of the Declaration of Independence vividly demonstrates this thorough trust in the Trustworthy One:  “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor remain as secure in the Lord’s hands today as they did during our nation’s birth.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD TRUST COMPLETELY IN THE LORD FOR PROTECTION AND PROVISION.  Our firm reliance on Him will be fully rewarded and faithfully remembered.

Thomas Nelson Jr. played a large role in the colonist victory during the American Revolutionary War, and did so while demonstrating a wonderful appreciation of responsibilities over rights.  As a General in the Virginia Militia, Governor of Virginia, member of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, this man born of privilege selflessly invested his inheritance in the wonderful concepts of a fledgling America.

General Nelson was directly involved in the final siege during the Battle of Yorktown, his hometown.  According to legend, Nelson urged General Washington (or Lafayette in some accounts) to fire artillery on his own home, which at the time was being used as the headquarters of British General Cornwallis.  While this self-sacrificing action combined with other losses experienced during the war caused him financial ruin, his character remained solidly intact.

During a fitting tribute paid to him upon his death, the following was said of this true patriot:

“As a man, a citizen, a legislator, and a patriot, he exhibited a conduct untarnished and undebased by sordid or selfish interest, and strongly marked with the genuine characteristics of true religion, sound benevolence, and liberal policy. Entertaining the most ardent love for civil and religious liberty, he was among the first of that glorious band of patriots whose exertions dashed and defeated the machinations of British tyranny, and gave United America freedom and independent empire.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN LEADERS OF TODAY WOULD EXHIBIT CONDUCT UNTARNISHED AND UNDEBASED BY SORDID OR SELFISH INTEREST.

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

American Christians, in line with the culture around us, seem to be adamant about our rights and ambivalent about our responsibilities.  We cling to our rights to live like the world, and ignore our responsibilities to impact the world.  We cling to our rights to be served, and ignore our responsibilities to serve others.  We cling to our rights to spend time on our own priorities, and ignore our responsibilities to invest time in God’s priorities.  We cling to our rights to complain about our country, and ignore our responsibilities to pray for our country.

If Christ had so clung to His rights while walking this earth, would He have ever taken on the responsibility to save us?

Properly appreciated liberty demands precisely applied responsibility.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD SELFLESSLY SHOULDER OUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES RATHER THAN SELFISHLY SQUABLING OVER OUR WORLD-WELCOMED RIGHTS.  It is right to liberally pursue our responsibilities while limitedly pursuing our rights.

Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

Several years ago, we were driving down the road listening to Christian hymns.  At some point on the drive, we heard a loud “No!” from the backseat.  Assuming it was a standard sibling spat, we ignored it.  A short while later, we heard the same thing.  This time, we turned around to investigate.  Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, we ignored it again.  The third “No!” finally demanded parental action.  We turned to our oldest daughter, then five years old, and asked what was bothering her.  She responded that it was the song’s fault – an interesting answer.  Indeed, she had been responding to the rhetorical question in the song, Is Anything Too Hard For God? and defiantly answering “No!”

She was right; nothing is too hard for God.  With this firm doctrinal truth in mind, nothing should prevent us from begging the Lord for intervention in our land.  PLEASE PRAY WITH A FIRM SPIRIT OF BELIEF THAT NATIONAL HEALING IS EASILY WITHIN THE LORD’S REACH.  To a spirit of resignation that discounts the Lord’s power, we should firmly say “No!”