“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
Every year on Independence Day (or more often Independence Day “week”), millions of Americans celebrate our hard-won freedom. As a patriot who has served both in the military and in law enforcement for the better part of my adult life, this day has great meaning for me. Yet sadly and tragically, a great many have no understanding of what this day really means…that it marks the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence, a document which announced the American colonists’ desire to be independent (free) from Great Britain and a tyrant of a king. This was of course accomplished through a costly (as in the blood of patriots) victory over the English in the Revolutionary War (a victory that was nothing short of a miracle). Twelve years later (1788), our Founding Fathers finally ratified our God-inspired U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The American people have a rich tradition of cherishing independence (well, the pandemic exposed some sad exceptions which an all too rare few of us vehemently resisted). Over the years, the “American Dream” has developed into the notion that anyone can achieve their goals by pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps and working hard.
While I wholeheartedly believe we should work hard and strive to reach our goals, many people have fallen for two huge lies:
(1) While this is a more recent development, the false and wicked notion that we should “depend” on the government for everything (to wit, the growing evils of socialism, communism and generational welfare).
(2) That we do not need to depend on anyone in this life (and have either forgotten or never learned one of the final lines of our Declaration of Independence: “… with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence…” (God). Our sin nature leads us to think we can determine truth apart from God, including the false idea that, if we are “good enough,” then God will let us into heaven (a lie from the very pit of hell). Our independent spirit has also led many — including many in law enforcement — to think that they can earn salvation by their so-called “good” works and service, and thereby escape the judgment of a holy and righteous God. But they are gravely (as in the grave) mistaken.
Popular psychological teaching bolsters man’s independent thinking by telling him that he is inherently good and can solve his problems on his own. However, God — through His written word (the Bible) — teaches just the opposite — that man’s “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). And that, without first being born again in Christ, “None are good, no not one.” (Romans 3:10). We pride ourselves on our solutions to the minor problems we encounter, but we can never conquer our greatest problem — sin — in our own strength.
Our national motto – In God We Trust – is one that many “un-Americans” are seeking to erase (at our peril). In fact, our very survival as a nation DEPENDS on re-affirming our trust and dependence on God. Short of that, we are very likely doomed as a nation.
Understand the focus here: nowhere in Scripture does God mention the United States. Nowhere does He tell us that being an American will save us. On the contrary, God tells us that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, no matter how many “good” deeds we do (Isaiah 64:6), apart from Christ we will still face God’s righteous judgment for the sins we have committed (scroll down and take the “Good Person Test” if you doubt me on this). So-called good or even heroic deeds — including our honorable service as peace officers — can’t wash away our sins (or the just penalty for them).
Thankfully, God “dispatched” His Son, Jesus Christ, on the ultimate “rescue mission.” He became and is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus did not come so that we could tell cute nativity stories or so that we would think of Him as simply a good teacher. No, Jesus came to be tortured and die an agonizing death on the cross at the hands of the cops of his day. He came to take our punishment on Himself. But praise be to God, His death was not the end! Three days later our Savior defeated Satan and his minions by rising from the dead (overcoming the grave). In doing so, He has secured the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven for all who elect to trust in Him as Lord and Savior. God dispatched His Son, Jesus Christ, on the ultimate rescue mission. Share on X
On the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This statement directly contradicts the man-made religious concept that a person can earn his own salvation (something we as cops do all-too-often). This “Declaration of DEPENDENCE” is extremely offensive to the modern “tolerance” mindset which refuses to tolerate the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. Jesus unequivocally declared that He is the only way to the Father (the only way we can be saved and set free from an otherwise just and eternal sentence in hell).
This is why it is so important for us to declare our DEPENDENCE on Jesus Christ. If we truly want to be free, then we need to depend on Jesus alone who said, “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). This freedom is in fact independence from the punishment of our sin and from the ungodly burdens of this world (Galatians 5). Salvation and freedom from sin are available to all who repent (stay with me…) and place their trust (dependence) in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
We may cherish our independence and freedom in the United States, but — as we’re seeing played out before us — that independence and freedom is quickly eroding and can easily be taken away. The further we drift from the authority of and obedience to God and His Word in this nation, the less freedom and independence we will possess. The more we reject God’s authority as a nation, the less godly we will become as a people, and the more laws will be required to govern our sinful behavior. We are witnessing the stripping away of personal freedoms in this nation and this directly corresponds to the rejection of biblical authority in society (and the police are “smack dab” in the middle of it).
My prayer and hope are that we will all embrace the fact that Independence Day — especially in the wake (never “woke”) of the growing lawlessness and wickedness we’re seeing throughout our nation – will become our “Dependence Day.” We must be willing to repent of our sin (both personally and nationally) and be dependent on our Creator and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation, for the strength to make it through each day, for the power to forgive and show grace to others, for the ability to survive in our God-ordained profession, for the restoration of our nation and for the ability to live a life that pleases Him. If you have never placed your faith and trust (your Declaration of Dependence) in Jesus Christ, I beg you to do so now. In doing so, you will experience true freedom and eternal “independence” from sin and hell. Feel free to reach out to me if you have a question.
Thanks to Tim Chaffey of Answers in Genesis and Risen Ministries whose work served as a resource for this study.
