Independence Day Friday, July 04, 2008

When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, there were already an estimated 2.5 million people living within the newly independent nation. It was a time of rejoicing and freedom for all. During the period between our independence and today, the nation's population has grown to an amazing 304 million people. That’s an average increase of 1.3 million people each year since 1776.

Today is the 232nd birthday of the United States of America, and by the grace of God we still have the same freedom that our forefathers fought to establish. Great men such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were among our founding fathers who made it all possible through their faith and trust in Almighty God.

The Christian principles that our forefathers founded this country upon were blessed by God and led to the development of the greatest nation in the world. Though times are quickly changing and this nation relies less and less upon God, we are still blessed to have such a place that is abundantly supplied with all we need, and more importantly, where we can freely worship our God.

We celebrate this Independence Day for the blessed opportunity we have to live and worship freely. But by the grace of God, we as Christians have a far greater freedom to hold to than this world. Though we are associated with the glory and shame of this great nation, our association is only temporal. We are looking forward to the Day when we will meet our Lord and Savior in the air and go to freely dwell in the land of that Eternal Kingdom.

If I'm an American, I stand all of her shame, I stand all of her glory. Ever what she was, I am. I'm an American citizen. I was... I landed on Plymouth Rock. Yes, sir. Yeah, I landed on Plymouth Rock. I signed the... I was in the hall that morning when they signed the Declaration of Independence. I signed it with them. I'm part of her economy. I signed the Declaration or Independence. That's right. I was with Washington, at Valley Forge, when he crossed the river. I was there that morning. I prayed with him. I was. You were, as an American. If you're an American, you was. For, everything America is, you are. I hoisted the flag--flag on Guam. I helped them do that. I took every fort. I bore her shame, as a revolutionary. Whatever she was, I am.

And whatever Christ was, I am. What He is, I am. O God! If He is considered a fanatic, so must I be. If He was a--a Beelzebub, by His works of His Spirit, I am too. Whatever He was, I am. Whatever He was, you are. We must be the makers of her immortality, her freedom or her fame, her glory or her shame.

We must be that. We must be the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ. I lived with Him on the earth, when He lived. I died with Him when He died. I rose with Him when He rose. I'm assembled and am seated with Him now in Heavenly places, because I'm part of Him. Wherever He is, there I am. "Where My servant is, there will I be also.

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