Today we celebrate the 248^th Birthday of America. When I think of my country, pride and grief intermingle. While I love to remember all that God did in the formation of this great nation, I am overcome with sorrow at the thought that we have truly forgotten from whence we came.

As I started my day, a portion of Galatians 5:1 began to ring in my ear, “…do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” I pondered this for some time, thinking of its application to myself and also to America. In light of the entirety of Galatians 5, we see that it is the submission to the flesh that brings one back into bondage—our initial liberation being when we received Christ as Lord. But it is submission to the Spirit of God that brings true liberty and freedom.

The events surrounding the birth of the United States were of a spiritual nature having natural repercussions. In the 40 years preceding the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, the First Great Awakening swept through the colonies. Entire towns were experiencing revival and were thus completely transformed. There was spiritual liberation that ultimately led to physical freedom. It was a foretaste of what the Lord longs to pour out on all mankind.

But in our gaining of freedom, we used it as an opportunity for the flesh (Galatians 5:13) and have once more become subject to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). We are a people so driven by our carnal lusts that the true freedom of the Spirit has become detestable, the sacrifice of our earthly desires unnecessary, and a surrendered life on the altar of the Lord considered radical.

For myself, I have come to see that my undisciplined life is but a mirror of where I’m truly at spiritually. It is a reflection of my lack of devotion to my Lord as I have refused to completely dedicate myself to knowing Him and the fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). I want the power without the cost, the benefits without paying the price, and my friend the reader, that is simply not possible.

At one point in America’s short history, being American was synonymous with being a Christian. That is no longer the case. I would go far to say that in many ways, being a Christian is no longer synonymous with being a believer in Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that in order to follow Him we must deny ourselves. Many probably don’t even know what that means as we are too busy choosing ourselves.

Consequently, we now stand at a crossroads of self-indulgence and self-denial. Which shall we choose as a people? This nation is dying. The people are dying, and are dead, really. The question is, will we continue to play a game of make-believe where we pretend our mediocre Christian lives are impacting people for Jesus, or will we submit to God, humble our hearts in repentance, and sacrifice ourselves so that this nation might live. Our Founders paid a high price 248 years ago for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today. Are we willing to pay that price for our posterity?

The judgement of God is upon us. We cannot sing “God Bless America” and expect Him to do so when we willfully sin against Him. But I have hope that this nation “shall have a new birth of freedom” (Gettysburg Address- A. Lincoln). I believe with all my heart that God will once more pour His spirit out in mercy on this land. But my friend the reader, we must, with sincerity, put 2 Chronicles 7:14 into practice, humbling ourselves before the mighty hand of God and turning from our wicked ways.

True liberty is not found in the ability to get to do whatever we want or even to believe whatever we want without interference from the government. It is the complete indwelling of the Spirit of God in our lives that we are no longer controlled by the lust of our flesh and the weight and sin that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1). It is the ability to rise above our current circumstances because we cast out the rules of this world that we were trained by and embrace the ways of Christ that bear us up on eagles’ wings so we can soar in the heavenlies.

My friend the reader, today as we remember and honor our American heritage and as we enjoy our many freedoms, I pray that we also call to mind what true freedom is, analyze our own lives, repent of any sin, and turn to the Lord for the healing and forgiveness of this land. My fellow Americans, our families, communities, and nation need us. Will you answer the call?

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