Let me state that again, one million three hundred fifty-four thousand, six hundred sixty-four and counting. That’s how many people have died in the history of our country to ensure that you and I are able to live free.
When you think of the upcoming holiday, your thoughts shouldn’t just be about fireworks and foot-longs, it should be about the unbelievable price that has been paid so that you are able to be free. When you think about what we are celebrating every year on July 4th – and you try to fathom that unbelievable number it’s truly humbling.
It is compelling. It makes you realize that all too often you take your freedoms and liberties for granted. When you think about that number it makes you want to honor the sacrifice that was made by making sure you respect and appreciate all the freedom that you are able to enjoy today.
It makes you want to live a different life. When you think of that number – it makes you want to live like someone died for you. Because they did. I mean obviously, they fought for their own liberties and the freedoms of those they loved. But they also fought to protect the same rights for you and me.
So what you have, what you enjoy in this life, really isn’t because of you. Someone else paid the price and you get to enjoy it. Someone else did the heavy lifting and the hard work and we get to benefit from it. We should live a life that reflects that truth.
You may not realize this and you may not live by it – but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. You owe so much of your life to someone else – someone who paid the ultimate price.
But it isn’t just all of the brave men and women who were charged with and chose to fight for our freedoms that you and I owe. The question isn’t if someone died for you would you live a life worth saving. Because the reality is – someone has died for you and paid an enormous price for you.
“He (Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” - 2 Corinthians 5:15
So while you celebrate this week, that we live in an amazing land of opportunity and take time to appreciate the freedoms we have and remember all of those amazing men and women who so selflessly provided you and I the freedom we have – do not forget that an enormous price was paid for you. It wasn’t just paid in defense of our freedoms but it was paid at your expense for eternity.
It’s all too easy to place our trust in so many things – our jobs, our families, our money, our success, our own ingenuity, our power or strength, and even at times our country. And while those things at times can provide us with stability we must remember what the builders and shapers of our nation recognized and declared.
It is “in God We Trust”.
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