Shiny New Independence Day
My husband bought a brand new truck. It was the fulfillment of every man’s fantasy, a ‘man’ vehicle; leather interior, shiny chrome trim, loaded inside and out! After every outing, he’d shut the doors tenderly, carefully brushing off leaves, bug butts and road dust. However, as time went on, the ‘shiny new’ wore off and it became nothing more than ‘the truck.’
The same can be said for the Declaration of Independence. It was a big deal when first signed and later legislation passed to give honor to the day it was introduced. It was a BIG event for the new colonies to finally be free from the oversight of Britain. After this declaration was finalized, our newborn country was on its own, a sovereign nation. Britain no longer had any say over our government or our laws nor could they force us to pay taxes.
Now, as hundreds of years have gone by, little attention is made to the original event. People celebrate with fireworks and picnics but oddly, few when asked, really know anything about WHY there is a celebration. When inquired of, most respond, “Because it’s July 4th!” But when questioned further, many know it was the date the Declaration of Independence was signed (not exactly right, but close enough) but are clueless about what the holiday actually does celebrate; our independence from the government control and taxes of England.
Human nature is like that in the remembrance of important dates. When we first get saved, we are SO excited! We keep our Bibles by the bedside and read every night, pouring over the scriptures, soaking it up like a sponge. We can’t get enough, say enough or do enough for the Lord. As time goes on, the ‘shiny new’ wears off and going to church and reading our Bible are done with less enthusiasm until it’s all simply “church stuff.” We’re still “Christians,” but our first love has quieted.
God created us for relationship with Him. He gave His son, Jesus, to die on the cross so we could have a personal relationship with Him. Then, God sent His Holy Spirit so we could know Him intimately, know His thoughts. There are many false Gods that people worship, but our God is the only God who wants us to have a relationship. Satan will do ANYthing to discourage us from having that personal intimacy.
The tools satan seems to have the most success with are simply; busyness and mundane acceptance. Like the celebration of Independence Day, most know the event of Christ’s atoning death but the significance of the event has lost its shiny new excitement. As we go on picnics and enjoy pretty fireworks, let us be thankful for our freedom and independence not just as a sovereign nation, but as a born again believer who has been set free from sin and bondage.
After God has gone to such incredible lengths and paid such a huge price to have intimacy with me, shouldn’t I at least be as faithful to plan time with Him as I would be to keep a holiday? Today, I determine that I will be thankful for America’s independence as a nation AND my independence from satan’s hold on my life. I’m going to keep my relationship with my Lord, ‘shiny new.’
Scripture:
Revelation 2:3-5 (NIV) 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me and setting me free from the destructive power of sin. Thank you that I live in a free country where I can choose to worship and go to the house of worship that I want. Help me to remember how precious both my freedom of choice and my freedom from sin is. I love you. Amen.
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