Each year most Americans enjoy the July 4th holiday with a day of leisure consumed with family reunions and/or fun times with friends. There are celebrations through fireworks displays, parades, and musical programs or concerts. How many of us really stop and think about why we celebrate July 4th?
Independence Day celebrations came about when the original 13 colonies broke away from the control and rule of Great Britian. On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House, later called Independence Hall, in Philadelphia and adopted the Declaration of Independence. This marked the separation of the United States from British rule.
This is the reason so many festivities and celebrations happen around this famed holiday. It symbolizes national pride and freedom.
Have you ever thought about the day you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Is this not the day that you cast the sins of the world to the side and declared yourself a follower of Jesus Christ? Is this not the same as not accepting the rule of the world just as the colonies did to Great Britian? Then why do we not celebrate this day since it will provide us with eternal life?
Accepting Christ into your heart is not something you have to fight for. The colonies fought a war with England to gain their independence and freedom from Great Britian; however, accepting Christ is a gift. Ephesians 2:8 tells us; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” NKJV
The Declaration of Independence has stood strong for the United States for over 200 years. I hope it remains strong forever but there is no guarantee that some other country won’t try and take away the freedom for which it stands. Being a Christian, you will be bombarded every day from wants and desires the world throws at you. However, we have an advocate who stays with us and guides our thoughts. The Holy Spirit will never leave you and will help you make decisions that are righteous. This doesn’t mean we won’t fall away on occasions, but the Lord will always allow us to come back to Him if we call on Him and repent of our sins.
This Fourth of July enjoy the celebrations of the holiday. We are in a blessed country and have freedoms no other countries have. Always remember the day you accepted the Lord as your Savior and remember this is something you will never lose if you believe and trust in Him. Hopefully America will never lose its freedom and continue to be a Christian nation. Knowing Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and following His guidance will lead you into eternal life when your life on earth is over.
