In the meantime, we wish you a happy and safe holiday as we remember the One who truly set us free...Jesus Christ! The following is a classic bulletin article for your reading pleasure!
"Freedom's Fireworks"
The
earliest memories I have of the Fourth of July, Independence Day, are of
sitting on a grassy hill with my grandparents, licking a See's caramel
lollipop, and watching the fireworks display. To my four-year-old eyes it was
all quite amazing.
Fireworks
used to be a sign of great rejoicing at some great victory or deliverance from
some despotic oppressor. If the Israelites had possessed fireworks certainly
they would have been a part of Miriam's celebration of Israel's escape through
the Red Sea and God's destruction of the Egyptian army, or to celebrate the
long awaited birth of Abraham's son Isaac, or perhaps the routing of the
Philistine army after David's duel with Goliath. It's not a stretch for me to
imagine that there are fireworks in heaven every time a sinner responds in
faith to the gospel message (Luke 15:10), or to hear the angelic victory shout
when a Christian overcomes some temptation to walk in willing obedience.
It
is an oppressed man's burning desire for freedom that makes him willing to
sacrifice everything to obtain it, if not for himself then for his family and
countrymen. And when they are finally free they rejoice. However, those who
never realize that they live in bondage, desire only their own pleasure, unknowingly
selling their souls for a show. I wonder, if we don't know too much about what
makes a good show and have too little firsthand experience of the joy that
comes with true deliverance and freedom.
This
year as we celebrate our country's freedom, let us remember that freedom
requires sacrifice. Brave men and women established this country's independence
at a great personal cost nearly 236 years ago. I don't think we can fully
experience the joy of political liberty on Independence Day unless we have
lived without it and most of us have not experienced the past and present oppressions
of fascist, communist, or Islamic governments. However, we have known the
oppression of sin and death working in our lives and families. Yet, we can know
a much deeper joy as we are reminded of the great victory and deliverance Jesus
has worked in our lives. The very colors of our flag, the red, white, and blue,
so prominent during this season can serve to remind us of the freedom we
have in Jesus Christ (John 8:36) that no government on earth can fully provide.
Red—Rose red, the color of love. God's love poured
out on us in the person of His Son. Sin red, the color of our guilt
(Isaiah 1:18). Blood red, the color of the covenant. Jesus shed His
precious blood to purchase our freedom from sin and death if we confess our
guilt and repent (1 John 1:9).
White—Pure white, the color of innocence.
Through Jesus' death on the cross we have been washed whiter than snow. We have
been justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We can now stand before God,
white and clean, just as if we had never sinned.
Blue—True blue, the color of undying loyalty reminds
us of God's faithfulness and of our commitment to Him. Heavenly blue,
the color of our eternal hope in Christ. The reminder that we have eternal life
to look forward to—no matter what our current circumstances may be.
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