Just because I can…
04/07/10 22:32
Every
year on July fourth, the United States celebrates her
freedom from Great Britain. In actuality we celebrate
our independence from Great Britain and we have done
this for 234 years. The first settlers though, came
from England and established Jamestown, Virginia in
1607. That tells me, that for 169 years these folks
“who lived across the pond” were
dependant upon England and probably would have never
survived this rugged frontier if it weren’t for
the help they received from her.
The colonies became strong in those 169 years and England became more tyrannical in fear of losing the prospects of expansion. Ironically, through the fear of losing, England lost what turned out to be the greatest nation the world has ever known. And the people of the United States; well because they didn’t fear the sacrifices before them, they gained a freedom that has been cherished by many for 234 years.
But let’s think about this for just a minute. When the first settlers came to live here there wasn’t any way they could have been independent from England, they needed her in order to survive. But, some years later, they became strong and self-reliant and had the ability to rebel against unfair governmental practices. At some point, the colonist went from being dependant to needing their independence, and that “point” came when they realized they had the power and ability to fight back. This is the secret power behind the greatness of the people of the United States. We have always expressed the strength and fortitude to carry out the sacrifices needed in order to ensure the values that we have believed in.
But there lies a hidden danger within this secret power as well. For the same power that expresses our strengths can just as well bring our demise. The same, “Because I now have the ability to carry out my desires” can be used for either good or bad. Someone once said that liberty was like a sharp knife. But it may be held in the hands of a doctor or the hands of a convict.
In my own personal life, I realized that as a child, I was totally dependant upon my parents. As I grew in strength and became older, my parents allotted me more freedom. But I made bad decisions and chose wrong paths with my new freedom and those choices worked against my happiness rather than for it. I did things –just because I could. Only realizing now that just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
People have always wanted to be free to govern themselves, fulfill their dreams and live out their ideals. It is in our nature to “do what we want” when we realize we possess the ability to do it. It is wisdom that is proven right by her children. It is wisdom that declares whether the liberty was in the hands of the doctor, or in the hands of the convict.
Remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed in order to gain eternal life? By approaching Him, that young man was declaring his dependency upon Jesus. When Jesus told him what he needed to do, “Go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, then come follow Me.” The young man used his ability to say no and walk away; by this action, he was declaring his independence from Jesus. The challenge before us today is to know for sure where our independence is leading us.
The colonies became strong in those 169 years and England became more tyrannical in fear of losing the prospects of expansion. Ironically, through the fear of losing, England lost what turned out to be the greatest nation the world has ever known. And the people of the United States; well because they didn’t fear the sacrifices before them, they gained a freedom that has been cherished by many for 234 years.
But let’s think about this for just a minute. When the first settlers came to live here there wasn’t any way they could have been independent from England, they needed her in order to survive. But, some years later, they became strong and self-reliant and had the ability to rebel against unfair governmental practices. At some point, the colonist went from being dependant to needing their independence, and that “point” came when they realized they had the power and ability to fight back. This is the secret power behind the greatness of the people of the United States. We have always expressed the strength and fortitude to carry out the sacrifices needed in order to ensure the values that we have believed in.
But there lies a hidden danger within this secret power as well. For the same power that expresses our strengths can just as well bring our demise. The same, “Because I now have the ability to carry out my desires” can be used for either good or bad. Someone once said that liberty was like a sharp knife. But it may be held in the hands of a doctor or the hands of a convict.
In my own personal life, I realized that as a child, I was totally dependant upon my parents. As I grew in strength and became older, my parents allotted me more freedom. But I made bad decisions and chose wrong paths with my new freedom and those choices worked against my happiness rather than for it. I did things –just because I could. Only realizing now that just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
People have always wanted to be free to govern themselves, fulfill their dreams and live out their ideals. It is in our nature to “do what we want” when we realize we possess the ability to do it. It is wisdom that is proven right by her children. It is wisdom that declares whether the liberty was in the hands of the doctor, or in the hands of the convict.
Remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed in order to gain eternal life? By approaching Him, that young man was declaring his dependency upon Jesus. When Jesus told him what he needed to do, “Go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, then come follow Me.” The young man used his ability to say no and walk away; by this action, he was declaring his independence from Jesus. The challenge before us today is to know for sure where our independence is leading us.
“It
is for freedom, that Christ has set us free.”
Saint Paul; Galatians 5:1
Think about it,
Pastor Jim
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