In 1776, the Second Continental Congress, chaired by Thomas Jefferson, issued the declaration of independence, by which the US was formally separated from Great Britain. The exact date is disputed, but not the fact. The day earlier, John Adams claimed the day as the most memorable epoch in US history.
The original document is now archived in the Smithsonian Institute, but it is sealed from exposure to light and air, so precious is the document to the people of America. Indeed, the birthing of that nation has resulted in arguably the most patriotic culture of earth. On this day, all Americans hold their heads high and strut their stuff in proud display of their priceless independence. Its a time of festivities, family meals and fireworks.
Millennia ago Israel crossed the Jordan and staked her claim on the land promised to Abraham and His descendants, by Almighty God. That was their ultimate moment of independence although the Jewish equivalent of independence day is the Passover, the day recorded by Moses as the first day of the first month of the first year, of their emancipation from slavery. All that happened when they finally crossed the Jordan forty years later, merely sealed and fulfilled what God had initiated when He separated them from Egypt. Sadly, for all their substantial claims, arguably the best articulated rights of land ownership ever conceived, the world still resents their right to live on the narrow, arid piece of real estate that all Jews regard as their ancestral home.
As Believers, we also have an independence event and we have a supporting document. The Bible is our declaration of independence and the Breaking of Bread our memorialisation thereof. Jesus left few commandments, but one was to preserve the Breaking of Bread, which thankfully has ensured the preservation of our culture through the passage of history. But, do we recognise it in the same way as the US or Israel recognise their rights? The implications for us are actually far more significant, for the state that represents our divine inheritance is a kingdom not made by hands, whose builder and maker is God – it is eternal, it is amongst us, it is advancing, the gates of hell will not prevail against it and the shout of a Great King can be heard amongst her people.
Do you savour the triumph of the cross and the power of your legal position in Christ?
(c) Peter Eleazar @ http://www.4u2live.net/
Image source: http://www.babble.com/
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