FREEDOM

As the Fourth of July draws near, my thoughts turn to liberty. It seems to me that freedom comes in many different packages.

I vividly recall the sense of freedom that first day in spring that mom said I could go barefoot. The 'thousand league boots' of childhood tales couldn't hold a candle to the bare feet of a small boy flying over hill and dale with his dog in the spring.

Then, there was the freedom when the last bell rang on the last day of school and the long, endless free days of summer stretched before us with all its tantalizing adventures.

Of course, we dare not overlook that exhilarating experience of our first drive in our first car. Here was liberty long yearned for, and finally achieved until we learned another lesson about liberty: It costs something! Gasoline, repairs, Tires, Insurance etc...

Later, there was that inexpressible sense of independence when I walked out the gate of the Marine Corps Base in San Diego with discharge papers in hand.

Those in other nations have their days of celebration too. There is Canada Day, Australia Day, Bastille Day, Cinco De Mayo and the signing of the Magna Carta, to name a few. To each nation, their day is most important.

To us in the United States, the Fourth of July is a day in which most citizens are unabashedly patriotic as we realize the awful price paid in the past for our Liberty and is still being exacted from those who stand in the gap to keep our nation strong and free. Our prayers and gratitude go out to those brave men and women who are even today risking their lives and sacrificing their personal liberty, that we might keep our liberty.

And yet, the greatest freedom offered to mankind, far excels any of those things mentioned so far. John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

During all my years in the ministry, I have never really tried to delve into any theology connected with this verse. It seems that it is far more important that one EXPERIENCE its truth by accepting Christ, and like the barefoot boy of long ago, exult in the freedom from sin and condemnation we can have through His sacrifice for us.

There are many in the world who have never known the freedoms we Americans take for granted, but the freedom from sin and hell is available to anyone, anywhere, at any time by simply putting their faith and trust in God's word, ie repenting of sin and asking Jesus to save them.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

WHEN THE BATTLE'S OVER

When the noise of battle ceases
And the smoke lifts from the scene
And the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace
At last begins His reign.

When the fighting is remembered
As a thing forever past
And all the soldiers of the cross
Shall wear a crown at last;

When the enemy is defeated,
Nevermore to rise again,
When even death is vanquished
And there's no such thing as sin;

When we doff our gospel armor
And don our robes of white,
THIS you can be sure of
As you then recall the fight;

However hard the battle,
However fierce the fray,
No man will have suffered loss
Because he stopped to pray!

And the wounds that seemed so grievous
In the battle when received,
Will give us cause for joy then
When of this flesh we've been relieved.

And though in battle, day by day,
His soldiers SEEM to fall,
Not one will then be absent,
When the victory roll is called!

When in the streets of Glory
His triumphant legions sing;
"Amazing Grace", the song will be;
We'll make all heaven ring!

By Grace He gave us armor,
By Grace He led us on
By Grace we won the victory,
By Grace we all got home!

fcc