God’s Declaration of Freedom

With all of America’s imperfections and contradictions, Independence Day still represents one thing that all people can celebrate; Freedom.

Freedom is one the great blessings we have as a country.

We have political and personal freedoms, that which was fought for, and continues to be fought for, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

These have been written in a language of the feelings and thoughts during that critical time in our nation’s history. It expressed the frustration the people were feeling of those things that kept them captive to England along with their resolve to be free.

It is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of freedom. But the one thing that this freedom is based upon, and that which is brought out loud and clear, is somehow missing in our celebration today. It is the fact that true freedom can only be found in and can only come through God.

Listen to these words. “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.”

And yet, while people can be political and personally free, there is a great bondage that most people are in, that none of these others can touch, and that is the bondage of sin.

The Bible speaks to this, and while political and personal freedoms are important, they’re not the most important. Rather it’s the reality of God and the freedom He provides.

True freedom begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; since it’s through Him that all things have been created (John 1:3). Therefore, all freedom flows from Him. He is the source of all freedom, and life outside of that personal relationship leads to all sorts of bondages, because spiritual freedom and sin cannot co-exist.

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)