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HELEN SANDERS
7-4-2022
MAKE A STAND
When the Puritans on the Mayflower came to America they came for the purpose of freedom of religion. They were deeply devoted to their faith. The Puritans were of two sects, those that wanted to separate from the Church of England, and those that wanted to remain loyal to the king.
When England started imposing taxes on everything it stirred up a lot of hatred against the King. Even though colonies had been established, the King of England kept the rule over them. You couldn’t make decisions unless you had permission from the King through his Governors.
Tempers flared over England’s control, and many said enough was enough. They wanted freedom from this tyrant. This brought about a country that would come together to fight this tyrant and sign a declaration of agreement that would bring independence from England.
In 1774 the Continental Congress was formed. Twelve of the thirteen colonies came together to discuss the coercive acts of England. Georgia was not part of it because they were fighting an Indian (now called Native American) uprising.
Later in 1776 Fifty-six men came together in Philadelphia. They became the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington and his forces were in New York. Because of this he was not at the signing of the declaration.
When these fifty-six men put their signatures on that document, they knew that there would be a price put on their heads for turning against the King and England. Nine of the signers died fighting in the war. They knew when they signed their name it might cost them their lives, but they proceeded anyway. They had a cause, and they paid the ultimate price for victory. This is what it takes to be free. Someone must pay the price.
You might say that I always take a principle and turn it into a spiritual lesson. I can’t help but think about the heroes of the faith that paid the price for America’s freedom. There are of course the martyrs of the bible, like Stephen, Paul, Peter, and others, but there are other martyrs that gave their lives long after the bible was written. They made a declaration of their faith in Christ, and many were put to death.
I believe the days are coming that many sold-out-Christians may face martyrdom also. It is happening throughout the third world, where many Christians have been executed for being a Christian in a country that doesn’t allow Christianity. They kept the faith unto death and have earned a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10.)
We might say that we would never deny Jesus, but when a gun is to your children’s head, will you relent? We must train our children and grandchildren that this may happen and not to worry if it does. One might kill the body, but they cannot kill the real you, the one that is born again by the Spirit of God. This life is only temporary, with eternity being our future.
Would you make a stand for Jesus like the ones did for America? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? We see those 56 names that signed a declaration nearly 250 years ago. All they had was the hope they had together to fight for freedom. Their signed declaration for freedom has been preserved and will be read for years. But the greatest declaration is our declaration of faith in Jesus Christ because it will last for eternity. It wasn’t signed in ink; it was signed with the blood of Jesus.
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