Fourth of July - Reminder of Spiritual Independence

By Daniel Deininger

July 4th, 2019

Today we celebrate the anniversary of our independence as a nation.  While some may be working, many will be taking the day off to celebrate this national holiday.  Hopefully sometime during the day we will take the time to give thanks to God for the many blessings we enjoy in the country.  We certainly have much to be thankful for in spite of the challenges we face as a nation.

I would also like to suggest that as we reflect on our national independence we also pause and consider the blessing we have of "spiritual independence".   The same "Nature's God" referenced in the Declaration of Independence, the same "Creator" that our founding fathers credit with giving us "certain unalienable Rights" has also made it possible for us to have spiritual independence from an unseen spiritual tyrant. 

Although some today may not consider that spiritual tyrant to exist, He does still exist and we are in a battle with him... just as our ancestors were in a battle with a tyrant king when they wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence

In the Bible, the handbook "Nature's God" inspired to be written, He warns us of our enemy:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (From the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible)

This tyrant enemy even blinds many so they neither believe he exists nor do they believe in the Creator God, aka "Nature's God", and His son who came to show us a better way and give us freedom from his bondage:

2 Corinthians 4:4  - Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (From the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible)

When we follow Satan's way - whether we know it or not - we become prisoners to Satan's way of life, and the results are not good. Satan's way is in rebellion to God's way with the results being negative, producing unhappiness and misery.  We become trapped in Satan's way which the Bible refers to as being "prisoners of sin":

Galatians 3:22 - But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. (From the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible)

So just as our forefathers were prisoners to a tyrant king, many today are still hostage to an invisible tyrant - Satan.   But "Nature's God" shows us a way we can be freed from those spiritual shackles and live a better life.  

Just as our founding Fathers had to fight to gain our national independence, we, too, need to fight our unseen enemy to gain our spiritual independence.  Thankfully, God has a plan to help us become spiritually independent of the tyrant Satan. By recognizing our sins and repenting of them, God wipes away their penalty through our acceptance of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. We demonstrate this by being baptized.  Through the laying on of hands after baptism, God then gives us the gift of His spirit that helps us continue to live in the way that results in true happiness. 

1 Peter 2:16 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (From the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible)

So, as we celebrate and give thanks for our national freedom on this Independence Day, let's also gives thanks to the great "Nature's God" who has also made it possible for us to have spiritual independence!

 

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For more information, if you are in Montana, please contact Dan Deininger at dan_deininger@ucg.org or 406-410-0162. If you're outside of Montana, please go to https://www.ucg.org/congregations where you'll be able to find the name of a minister in your area.