Declaring Your Independence

I would call the United States of America today a post-Christian country. Though our founding fathers had faith in God and took all of the principals used to frame our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution from the Scriptures - we have now moved passed needing God because we don't need that "crutch" anymore.

Or, as Psalm 2 puts it: "The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, 'Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.'" (vs 2-3)

Belonging to God is seen as a "cord" or a "bond." That's because God and his character seem so restrictive. In our society we want what feels good (sensuality) and what does good (practicality) FOR US.

That's all well and good if we see ourselves as first belonging to God and desiring to bring glory to Him. But when we become god ourselves we want to throw off all "restrictions". In reality we are only becoming slaves to the flesh and enemies of God.

The end for those with this opinion is pretty bleak: "You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel." (vs 9)

The flesh fools us into thinking that whatever feels good is good. We should desire God because He is the only thing that is truly good. I didn't make this stuff up. If God, who is the only One who is good, said this, I believe it:

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." (vs 12)

Take refuge from the post-Christian world in Jesus Christ. Let His character become your character. You will find more freedom than any declaration of independence from God will ever get you.

Pastor Tom