DIFFICULTY – DECISION – DECLARATION!

DIFFICULTY – DECISION – DECLARATION!

Josh 24:14-15

14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

           It is amazing to me how our nation’s formation and Christian faith strongly parallels. Our nation was formed out of great struggle and DIFFICULTY. The restrictions imposed by England upon the inalienable rights of the Colonies fueled a hunger for independence. When in the course of human events the tyranny of Satan becomes too much for sanity to side with, severance from his devilish grip and an alliance with Jehovah is called for!

           Some of the founding fathers never imagined that July 4^th would be a day to remember. It was July 2^nd that they thought worthy of remembering. Consider the following…

           On July2, Congress finally adopted a resolution in favor of independence, and on July 4 approved the Declaration of Independence. John Adams sat on the committee appointed to draft the document and had himself encouraged Thomas Jefferson to write the original draft, which was accepted with some modifications. As is typical of John Adams, he recognized the historical significance of the event but was just slightly off in his analysis of how it would be remembered – he was convinced Americans would always celebrate July 2 as “the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.
           John writes to his wife Abigail from Philadelphia July 3, 1776:
           The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
           You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, with I trust in God We shall not.

           So it is when the human spirit can no longer sustain the pain of servitude to the evil one. He first must DECIDE and then must DECLARE.

Rom 10:10

10 For with the heart man believeth [with the heart a decision is made] unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Dear Lord, I have decided to follow Jesus! Let me declare it to all who will hear! AMEN