I remember Patrick Henry’s exclamation as he faced death during the Revolutionary War – “Give me liberty or give me death!” Thomas Jefferson summed up the feelings and intentions of our patriot fathers when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. --That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving powers from the consent of the governed.”

Each Fourth of July we celebrate our country’s independence. But we must also remember the high cost of those who served and continue to serve to maintain our liberty. Satan is the ultimate tyrant who will use any man or means to bring God’s creation into bondage and death. We must therefore be vigilant to “stand fast” in liberty.

Our forefathers would be saddened and roused to action if they knew that the God (Creator) they talked about and trusted in and that the Ten Commandments were banned from public display in our courts of justice and public schools. There are those who hate America’s stand for liberty. But once you have tasted sweet liberty nothing else will satisfy. You want others to have the opportunity to enjoy that liberty.

In grade school we sang songs that still stir my soul when I think of sweet liberty. I don’t know if they still sing those songs or not. Perhaps they are not considered “politically correct” or school administrators are not brave enough to stand up for the right to honor God and country. One such song that still moves me when I hear it is “America”. The first verse says, “My country ‘tis of thee; Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the pilgrim’s pride; from every mountain side; Let freedom ring!” The last verse directs us to God, “Our father’s God to thee; Author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King!”

At the conclusion of Abraham Lincoln’s great speech at Gettysburg, he admonishes us, “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”

The Apostle Paul also warns us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
Two Thousand years ago a Savior came from heaven to live among us, to teach us, and to give his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He bled and died on the cross that we might be set at liberty from sin, death, and the tyranny of the devil. His blood will never lose its power to liberate those who put faith in his atoning work to bring us back to God. “If the Son, therefore shall make you free. You shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). That’s the ultimate of sweet liberty.

That captive eagle in a cage was born to be free. Perhaps you have been entangled with a yoke of bondage. Christ Jesus gave his life to liberate us from sin and death. “The thief comes not, but for to steal and to kill and to destroy; I am come that they might have life and they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Thank God for the liberty we have in America. Let us be vigilant to maintain that liberty. What about spiritual liberty? It is truly sweet liberty. Jesus paid the price for that liberty and gave us everlasting life as a free gift. How can you receive that gift of liberty and live abundantly and eternally?

A - Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)