A Foundation of Faith

A Foundation of Faith
by Susan @ DaySpring

Celebrating the 4th of July is always fun. Our national summer holiday usually includes time with family and friends, flags, fireworks, and food. Barbeque anyone? Oh, and let’s not forget to celebrate our freedom! That’s what it’s really all about, right - America’s Independence Day.

Wikipedia describes Independence Day as “A federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America.”

Most of us probably remember learning at least part of that important document in school. Come on, you remember - the one in which Thomas Jefferson wrote “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.”

What we might NOT remember learning in school, however, are the principles upon which our Founding Father’s built this nation. One of our first great leaders, John Adams, once stated,
“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

Also, the following prayer was found in President George Washington’s prayer journal. It beautifully illustrates exactly who our forefathers were looking to for guidance as they began the process of building a new nation, Under God.

Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ. – George Washington

This July 4th holiday is a good time for Americans to remind ourselves to give thanks for our country’s Founding Fathers. Let us thank God for this committee of men and thank Him for working through His people to lay a solid foundation of structure, unity and love for US citizens.

But also, let us not forget that our ultimate example of selflessness is given to us by Christ. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Christ died to give us freedom, and because of this, we can also celebrate this Independence Day by praising God for His love, shown when He hung on the cross, gave up His freedom and died so that we might live. John 3:16 reminds us that “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.”

It seems that every time we turn on the news we hear about war and crisis in countries around the world. But we don’t have to live in fear. When our faith is centered in Christ we can have a sense of peace that only comes from knowing that our times are in His hands. When our security comes from a faith in God’s perfect plan for our lives, we can experience peace as we think about the future. God is forever faithful, so we can find our strength in Him. As Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Let’s celebrate this Independence Day in thankfulness for the foundation of faith we’ve been given and the freedom that comes from God alone. Happy 4th of July everyone!