No Sacrifice, No Victory: Freedom, Justice, Honor, Duty, Faith, Family, Hope. Things we take for granted in America.

Thomas Jefferson ~ “How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”

Today is a great day. Today is one of my favorite holidays. It is the day we celebrate our nations Independence. Many will celebrate this day by having cookouts, hanging out with friends, going to parades and watching fireworks. But this day of celebration means so much more than just that. This is the day our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence and made us a free people, a free nation, one nation under God.

The Declaration of Independence is a noticeably religious document using phrases like "the laws of nature and nature's God" and "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." The Declaration of Independence is also a political and legal document. This was because we had no right even to create a constitution unless we could claim a higher authority than King George III who was the absolute law of the land. We were a British colony. The founding fathers response was that God was our authority and His liberty was our foundation.

A huge part of Independence Day is to recognize that faith in God is central to America's political character. Faith is what made this country great. So much so that our founding fathers were concerned that Americans would forget that the foundation of our nation was God due to a influential secular culture. A culture where patriotism means something utterly different than what our Founding Fathers believed it to be.

George Washington ~“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

George Washington ~“I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them.”

Our founding fathers knew the place the American people had in the world and they wanted them to understand the dangers of secularism. Ronald Reagan also understood this

Ronald Reagan ~ "I want you to know, that this administration is motivated by a political philosophy that sees the greatness of America in you, her people, and in your families, churches, neighborhoods, communities – the institutions that foster and nourish values like concern for others and respect for the rule of law under God. Now, I don't have to tell you, that this puts us in opposition to, or at least out of step with, a prevailing attitude of many who have turned to a modern-day secularism, discarding the tried and time-tested values upon which our very civilization is based. No matter how well intentioned, their value system is radically different from that of most Americans. And while they proclaim that they're freeing us from superstitions of the past, they've taken upon themselves the job of superintending us by government. rule and regulation. Sometimes their voices are louder than ours, but they are not yet a majority."

We are one nation Under God. Our history and traditions make no sense unless they are understood in this way. The Declaration of Independence clearly states that our rights come from God. Without the Declaration of Independence, there is no Constitution, but without God, there is no Declaration. That is how they saw it.

America started a political revolution in the world by standing up and proclaiming liberty as something given by God for all of mankind. It is our responsibility to understand the significance of liberty and its calling. Secular America wants to forget this reality. Our Declaration of Independence is the political heart of America because it proclaims freedom from not only England but also because we are proclaiming freedom under the recognition of God. Many have forgotten that due to the continual growth of liberalism. With our president and many in government destroying the free market, capitalism and many Americans hopes. But that doesn't mean that we should surrender to modern liberalism and compromise our faith and American ideals and principles. As Americans we should stand firm on our ideals and values. We are Americans with honest pride and humility. We should be proud of our Forefathers, who set forth the Independence of these United States. They gave us the Constitution, which guarantees the inalienable rights of every person. We should be proud of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and so many others. Yes these men were not perfect. No man is, but they stood for something greater.

Let us be proud of our freedom; the freedom, which come from God. Our freedom is something our Founding Fathers fought and died for. They fought and died to give us the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and a Democratic Government. This opened the way to freedom. They also built Institutions of higher learning and Religion, of culture and industry, and enabled everyone to move in the arena of creativity. Let us be proud of their monumental achievement! I believe America was a gift from God. We should always remember, to have an honest pride for our Country and not take that for granted. Do not let their death be in vain.

I often wonder if our Forefathers could see what the opposition is doing and what is slowly happening to our country. There was a time, when our Founding Fathers were greatly idolized. America must return to the time when there was honest pride, humility and Christian values, which made our Nation great. Why is this happening? We have lost our sense of values. This must be restored.

So what can you do to not let their death be in vain today? The answer is to express your freedom for which they fought for! Go spread the Gospel, knowing that we are free from being thrown into prison, beaten or killed. Read God’s word knowing you can freely get as many copies of scripture as you want at the local store because there are many nation’s with people who would die just to read a sentence of God’s word. Go out and fire your guns knowing that you have the freedom to bear arms. Go to church knowing that you do not have to hide in fear as they do in China. Go help your community for Christ, thank a soldier and go on a mission trip and help those who are less fortunate than you.

If you don’t like the direction our country is going, morally or politically? Do something about it. Don’t expect it to magically change. If you don’t like the direction we are going morally, spread the Gospel. As my pastor once said, “If you want to kill the unborn get a pulpit and don’t preach the Gospel. If you want to stop the death of the unborn spread the Gospel.” Don’t complain about it! Spread the Gospel because it is your God given right and freedom. If you don’t like the direction our country is going politically get involved. Call your congressmen, get involved in politics. You can make a difference. You have to fight for it just like our Founding Fathers did. No Sacrifice No Victory. Our Forefathers fought for our freedom and Independence it is time we continue the fight. Don’t set in your comfy chair and play halo wishing the country would get better while it slowly falls apart. Joseph Addison once said:

Joseph Addison - “Let freedom never perish in your hands.”

Leviticus 25:10 says which is also written on the Liberty Bell, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof” So proclaim liberty throughout the land. Use your liberty to spread the freedom of the Gospel to your friends, and your community. We’ve been given a special gift, use it!