The 4th of July is a day to celebrate freedom. The concept of freedom didn’t start with the American Revolution. The concept is as old as time. I want to explain this very important concept through the lives of the ancient Israelis or Israelites. After 6000 years of history, the Israelis today have a passion for freedom. They will defend themselves to the last man. But in the beginning, it wasn’t so. Adam and Eve lost their position with God through sin. God, not willing to abandon them, provided a way of salvation or freedom from the slavery of sin. When God couldn’t get mankind to follow, He chose one man, Abraham, to led a nation dedicated to God. Abraham, his son Issac and his son Jacob followed God. They had freedom to live their lives and follow the pursuits of their heart. Their children didn’t understand the cost of freedom and became enslaved by the Egyptians. God raised up a deliverer, Moses. He led them out of Egypt to the Promise land. Half of the Israelites didn’t want to fight for their freedom. But to reach the Promise land, they had to fight their way to it. Although, God gave them this land, there were still people occupying the land. The Israelites fought to take the land. Those who refused to drive out all the inhabitants, paid a heavy price for it. The inhabitants of the land of Canaan corrupted the Israelites and this lead to slavery again.
Freedom isn’t free. It cost everyone that wants it. Our country was born out of the struggle to be free from tyranny. Of all the Americans that lived in our country in 1776, 1/3 of the people were for fighting the British, 1/3 of the people didn’t care and 1/3 of the people were for the British. When the Americans won the war for freedom, they set up a living document that would govern all the people. It’s living because it can be changed to suit our needs. But it spells out our freedom and the responsibility to maintain that freedom.
If we aren’t willing to maintain our freedom through the our responsibility, we will lose our freedom. What are our responsibilities? There are set out in the US. Constitution, the freedom of assembly, the right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to petition the government to redress grievances. These freedoms have been hard fought for and can only be preserved though our due diligence.
I pray that everyone enjoys their 4th of July. And that we all remember where out freedoms came from and where they are going in the future.
Crain Blanchard.
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