This week we are rightly celebrating  Independence Day (or glibly, the "4th of July"), but we often forget its daunting origin and true meaning. July 4, 1776 was, in reality, a courageous step of faith in a miraculous journey that stunned the world. The colonists had only a small, poorly trained army and a meager, underfunded navy. Yet by signing their names to our truly God-inspired Declaration of Independence, they essentially declared war against the most feared and experienced army and navy in the world. In response, the mighty British Empire openly mocked and laughed at these foolish colonists (to them, traitors all), but not for long.

Against all odds, at great hardship and sacrifice, the colonies united and, in no small miracle, defeated the British not once but twice (the second being the War of 1812). With that first victory came the right, as Abraham Lincoln later put it, to form "a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal."  Moreover, by God's grace and leading, the new nation was formed not as a brute democracy but as the first ever successful representative, Constitutional Republic.  And the world laughed.

Everyone knew that for a nation to be successful, it needed a singular ruler such as a king. Europe ridiculed our new county by calling us, "The Great Experiment." Commoners and adventurers, they said, could not rule themselves (and never before had this been accomplished).  Their laughter and ridicule did not last long. This brave new nation, this United States of America, contrary to its critics and against all odds (stay with me), grew in power and influence until it stood as a military and economic super power, the envy of the world and (again) nothing short of a miracle (see The Miracle of America). 

How did this "David" of a country made up of poor, simple "commoner" colonists, overcome the derision and challenges of the world's "Goliaths" like the British Empire?  I believe that part of the answer was Holy Spirit-inspired. Our Founding Fathers, many of them clergyman or men of faith, came to understand that if they were to achieve the dream of America, they could not do it alone. They (and we) needed God. This new nation understood that to survive and prosper it needed to be "in dependence" on the Lord of Hosts. To overcome the impossible odds, the new country had to be -- as it would later be called --  "One Nation Under God" with a righteous national motto, "In God We Trust."

The architects of the new republic made certain to acknowledge their (and thus our) source of blessing. God is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, in the U.S. Constitution, as well as in the constitutions of all 50 states. When they declared their (our) independence, they also correctly declared their dependence upon God.

Now understand that this kind of dependence on God is not new.  In  Exodus 14 and 23:20-33 (for example) we find the fledgling "nation" of Israel depending entirely on God for their very survival (and against the most powerful armies of their day).  The Book of Joshua is replete with incredible victories when Israel DEPENDED on God, while at other times they dealt with the consequences (defeat) when they sinned or otherwise ventured outside of of God's will and direction ( Joshua 7, for example). Even the concept of the warrior-sheepdog that I open virtually every newsletter with comes with the understanding that we serve under the Great Shepherd.  

What we find time and time again both in history and in God's Word (the Bible) is that even the greatest of nations fail/fall, particularly when sin replaces righteousness (as God alone gets to define it). Frankly, given the depths of wickedness in our nation (slavery and discrimination in our past; abortion and the overall lawlessness [ 2 Thes. 2:1-12] today, etc.), I think it is only by God's grace and mercy in response to the prayers of His faithful that He has not already destroyed us.

The bottom line, of course, is that we can't save ourselves.  Just as God blessed and protected Israel, He also righteously imposed consequences for their sin and rebellion (as He will one day do with us in America).  Independence Day is a great reminder to us that, as with our nation, we need to heed God's clear, clarion call to follow Him and be obedient to His "Constitution" (without "amendments" -- changes -- mind you) and statute book, the Bible.  History -- including the Bible -- also teaches us that we will fail if we trust only in our own strength and so-called "goodness." In  Psalm 20:7 ,  David -- writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with Exodus 14  no doubt in mind -- proclaims: " Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God ." The prophet Isaiah also reminds us that those who place their dependence on the Lord will renew their strength and rise up like eagles ( Isaiah 40:31 ).

Finally, for the born again believer (a Christian as God defines it), we can trust that whatever major issues we may be facing, whatever ridicule we receive for our faith, whatever the Goliath that tries to frighten or destroy us, we can depend on the Lord to carry us through to victory (ultimately eternity with Him).  Let us make time to offer a prayer of thanks to God Almighty for His abundant blessings, recognizing that we can keep our independence only as long as we are "in dependence" upon Him.

If not on duty this Independence Day/week, let us enjoy our families, our cookouts, our public fireworks shows and our patriotic parades. If on duty, let's us thank God for the privilege of doing our part to protect the liberties of others.  Let us also remember the great sacrifices that were made to earn us our liberty that we so enjoy in our God-ordained ( Romans 13:1-4) representative, Constitutional Republic (again, we're not a mob-rule "democracy").  

* Thanks to fellow Chaplain Art Pace from whose work served as a resource for this message.

More? Check out Tim Chaffey's excellent devotional that he too rightly entitled, "Dependence Day."