On July 2, 1776 Continental Congress nearly unanimously
adopted a resolution proposed by Richard Henry Lee calling for the colonies’
independence from Great Britain. On July 4th Congress formally
adopted the Declaration of Independence. Tomorrow marks the 240th
anniversary of that historical event. Americans RESOLVED to no longer live
under the rule of British authority.
On an unrecallable day and month in 1980 a young man took an
older man by the hand and marched with great RESOLVE to the front of a great
hall to make known his Declaration of Dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ for
salvation. That young man was me, the older man was my dad and at the front of
that hall (Pembroke Road Baptist Church), I met with Pastor Robert E. Sawyer
who led me through the prayer of confession and repentance and acceptance.
The second event mentioned above (my public proclamation of
Christ) could not have happened without the first event (the Declaration of Independence) and without
the many sacrifices since then by the men and women who have given their lives
fighting for this independence. The United States of America would not be the
free country it is today without their sacrifice. Granted, America still has her flaws: some old
and some new, but the principals upon which America was founded still stand and
is still the best place on earth to live.
However, America, like all the world will one day pass away.
What matters beyond today is not where your earthly citizenship is recorded, but
where your heavenly citizenship is recorded. It’s not found in your declaration
of independence, but in your declaration of dependence. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I AM the Way and the Truth
and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
You and I cannot reach the heavenly country apart from
receiving the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ. To receive that gift, the
first thing you need to do is recognize that you are desperately dependent on
His gift. You and I cannot do enough
good to get to heaven. We are dependent. Will you join me today in declaring
your dependence on Christ for salvation?
For God’s Glory,
Pastor Chris
