Gtcotr/ws070412
Many
people never experience an Independence Day because they live in the regrets of
the past or the fear of the future.
Shadows
of the past and demons of the future are but paper tigers, roaring lions, which
can neither bite nor devour except we allow them to control us, our thoughts
and our actions.
By
June of 1776 those living in the 13 Colonies of the Americas were fed up with
the injustice of the British government in their day. The unfair taxes, unlawful
constraints and illegal occupation of standing armies in times of peace that
held themselves above the laws of very nature, had driven these colonialist to
resolve. Fear no longer held them captive.
On
June 11, 1776, Congress impaneled a 5 person committee with Thomas Jefferson as
chairman. Their task was to draft a declaration of independence. After 17 days
the draft was presented to Congress on June 28, 1776.
The
following few days saw edits and revisions ending with a total of 26 changes to
make the final draft. On July 1st at 9am debate began on the issue
of Independence. When finally put to the vote on July 2, 1776, 12 of the 13
colonies voted unanimously in favor of independence with New York abstaining
from the vote.
It was on July 2, 1776, that the 13 united
Colonies of America officially became the United States of America.
John
Adams reasonably expected July 2nd to be the celebrated day and thus
he wrote to his wife, Abigail Adams, on the 3rd of July:
"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha,
in the History of America. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and
Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations
from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
(John Adams to his wife Abigail, July 3, 1776)
July
3rd Congress met to focus on the Declaration of Independence. Debate
grew long and had to be adjourned until the morrow.
On
July 4th congress made some changes to the manuscript and approved
the final document we now know as the Declaration of Independence.
The
original was signed only by John Hancock and Charles Thompson on the night of
July 4th. And, contrary to popular belief, the signed copy delivered
to King George III had only Hancock’s and Thompson’s signature affixed. The
remaining 54 signers were not published until 1777.
On
July 15th the resolution adopted by New York in support Independence
made it possible for the document to be entitled the Unanimous Declaration of
the Thirteen United States of America.
If
we were to read this Declaration of Independence we would find that it might
not hold so much talk of independence as it does principles and strong held
beliefs of dependence. This document clearly reveals that the United States of
America was founded on dependence in two areas of life:
1.
Dependence on God
2.
Dependence on one another
First
we see dependence on God claimed in the Preamble …
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,[76] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That
to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, — That
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right
themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a
long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces
a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their
duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future
security.
After
listing the several charges and admitting humility in attempts to redress such
… the final paragraph, and even the final words give us to understand their
declared dependence both on God and on one another.
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; that they
are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be
totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full
Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and
to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.
Life
demands a source to which we pledge ourselves in service in return for supply
of our needs. These brave colonialists declared their source to be God and the
mutual support of their fellow man. This and only this dependence on God and
one another could ever free them from the tyranny of their oppressors.
Independence
from Great Britain was a difficult decision poured over by so many with earnest
hearts to arrive at a unanimous conclusion … however, their decision was
nothing except they act and … it was time to act! A declaration stood them
squarely on their faith that united together in a purpose worthy of God’s
intervention would bring them success.
Before
Independence Day could become a reality however, they had to develop a “This
Day” mentality. This Day simply means – Today or Never!
If
we were to survey the AV Bible we would find the phrase, “This Day” – (meaning Today)
– a total of 312 KJV times. God has a “This Day” word. Nowhere in the Bible is
it more evident that the children of God needed a “This Day” mentality than in
the book of Deuteronomy, right at the point where God is attempting to motivate
and encourage His children to cross over the Jordan River and enter the
battlefields of the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 70 – 1:10; 2:25; 4:4; 4:38 & 39; 6:6;
9:1 & 3; 30:19
Numbers 1
Perhaps
the defeat of the children of Israel at Kadesh Barnea, 40 years earlier, as
recorded in the book of Numbers, was due to them not having the proper
perspective – an Independence Perspective – A “This Day” Mentality. Perhaps
they were not mentally and spiritually prepared.
Before
we step off into our Independence Day we also might need to develop a “This
Day” mentality. Allow me to share:
Three Truths Concerning Independence
1.
Independence is a process which takes time
2.
Independence is not a cause rather it is an effect
a. Everyone is
dependent on a source – take away the source and you will fall
b. Independence is not
the root of life but a fruit of life
c. It is the result of
being dependent on another source
d. Independence from
one does not create dependence rather dependence on one creates independence
from another
e. Dependence on God
creates independence from others
f. Dependence on others
allows independence from God
g. Only our dependence
can maintain our independence
h. Independence from
the wrong source is gained through dependence on the right source.
3.
Independence Day is whatever day you
Decide
Decree
Declare
Independence
Day was not the day the war ended but the day it began.
