Next week on July 4th, we will celebrate the birthday of our great nation. Our independence or freedom was declared on July 4, 1776, but was not celebrated until July 4, 1777. There were 13-gun salutes in the morning and evening. During the day-salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews and fireworks all occurred, and a special dinner was given for the Continental Congress that evening.
Today, we observe the day in different ways depending on what part of the country we live in. Yes, today there are parades, picnics, ball games, fireworks, and other events.
This great country was founded on the idea that men and women should be free and should have some basic rights and free-doms, like freedom from other governments, freedom from the tyranny of our government and freedom of and from religion.
There are untold numbers of men and women who fought and died so we could have these freedoms.
I am also reminded of an even greater freedom that was made available to us many years ago when Christ gave His life for us, (John 8:36; Romans 5:8). We could have forgiveness from our sins, (Acts 10:43; Ephesians 1:7) and the hope of a new life and a new future, (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 10:16-23).
Let us remember these two great events on this holiday and the people that made these freedoms available to us.
See you in Church next Sunday.