Independence day! Oh what a sound those words have! They carry the ring of Freedom and Liberty! Crowds gather to celebrate little realizing that instead of possessing freedom and liberty they are slaves to sin and serfs under the cruel dominion of satan.

What is true “freedom”? Where is freedom to be found? We find in John 8:32 these words: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Today, if you would celebrate freedom, turn to the Author of Life and seek the freedom that He offers through knowledge of His word.

The principles on which the United States of America were founded are mostly unknown to people today. When the records are examined, the words of the founding fathers ring with the sound of true freedom. These were men who knew what they were doing and knew that they were seeking to establish a country in which the right of the people to serve the True God would be upheld. Let’s take a look at some of their writings.

“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. … 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…. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…. 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.” –A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress Assembled July 4, 1776

“We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient.” —Samuel Adams

“Yesterday, the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was nor will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony, ‘that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and as such they have, and of Right ought to have, full power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which other States may rightfully do.” — John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

“May it [the Declaration of Independence] be to the world what I believe will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing man to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition has persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings of security and self-government.” —Thomas Jefferson

If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms, and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us. —Patrick Henry, 1775

“We now have a National character to establish, and it is of the utmost importance to stamp favorable impressions upon it; let justice be then one of its characteristics, and gratitude another.” —George Washington

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. —Thomas Paine

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” —Samuel Adams

“People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.” — John Adams

“Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” —Thomas Paine

“There is an option still left to the United States of America, that it is in their choice and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous or contemptible and miserable as a Nation.” — George Washington

That last one strikes home through the centuries. What will we as a people choose? Will we turn from “the God of our fathers” to follow the modern call to dependance on the schemes and ideas of men? Will we turn our backs on the examples of those who pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” and on the God who saw them through the conflict?

What direction will we as a nation now take? Will we turn back to God and take back the “land of the Free and home of the Brave” from the hands of godless men who seek to destroy that which was established 225 years ago? Will we as a nation (in the words of George Washington) “be respectable and prosperous or contemptible and miserable as a Nation.”?

Is it to late? In Romans chapter one we read:

“18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. 20For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

This is a picture of the once great nation of the United States of America. For too long good men and women have stood aside allowing perverse people to set the laws and customs. We have refused to stand up for what is right and so our land has slid into disrespect towards our Creator. Marriage is no longer honored nor respected in our land. We have allowed the concept of family to be brought into disrespect by allowing those who live in sodomy to be considered “a family”. God’s laws are clear on these and many other subjects, and yet we stand by and say nothing while our land is brought lower and lower away from the paths set by God.

Let us not forget the judgements handed down by God to the nations of Judah and Israel. Because they did not walk in the way that God had set for them, because they turned aside to follow the wicked kings and to serve other gods, they were removed from their land. Their nation was destroyed. Let us not allow that to happen to the United States.

Today, July 4, 2001, is a good day to begin to take back our nation and to proclaim the Glories of Him who allowed us to become the greatest nation on earth.

… in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. I Chronicles 28:8b