It has been tough, tough times in our country with the Covid-19 affecting everyone and everything. There were many with severe personal sickness and never totally recovering, so many losing close friends or loved ones, loss of jobs, smaller paychecks or no paycheck, unrest in our country, and the school year totally disrupted for the children.
This is not the first time our country has had hard times. There have been severe droughts, the dust bowl, times of severe economic disaster, the depression, as well as WWI and WWII. There have also been times of plagues and illnesses and America survived because of its people.
Our freedoms came at a great cost, so let each one of us be willing to do our part to keep those freedoms. I am reminded of an even greater freedom that was made available to us many years ago when Jesus Christ died on the cross for us (Matthew 1:21, 26:28, 1 Corinthians 15:3&4). But we must be willing to ask Him to forgive our sins and trust in Him (1 John 1:9, 12).
Oh, how wonderful it is to be free from the penalty of sin (Revelation 1:5) and the joy of a new life in Christ and the glorious future we can look forward to (1 Peter 1:8&9). As we enjoy the freedom of religion, and so many other freedoms in our great country, let us be ever so thankful and enjoy the holiday.
See you in Church next Sunday.