This past weekend our country celebrated Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. That declaration declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to King George III, and were now “united, free, and independent states.”
The freedoms we enjoy in this country came at a great cost to many men and women. One such young man joined the Connecticut Militia shortly after the Revolutionary War began in 1775. He would later join the 7th Connecticut Regiment, one of the many regiments of The Continental Army. In September 1776 he volunteered for an intelligence gathering mission in New York City, one of the first American spy missions in history. Unfortunately, the 21 year old man was captured by the British and executed by hanging on September 22, 1776. Nathan Hale’s last words were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Those words inspired hundreds of Continental Army soldiers to stay in the fight for freedom. As I thought about Mr. Hale’s resolute statement, my eyes turned to a plaque hanging on the wall in my home. The words on that plaque are, “Only one life twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” The Bible says in James 4:14, “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Life is indeed short, way too short to not make it count for something meaningful. You and I may not be able to fight in a war for our country, but we can stand up for freedom, for the flag, for our family, and for “the faith.” The greatest freedom in history isn’t the victory over the British, it’s the victory over sin and Satan as a result of Jesus Christ giving his life on the cross of Calvary! Those of us who claim to be Christians need to share the news of that freedom with those around us living under the tyranny of Satan. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of God, penned a resolution that every Christian should memorize and put into practice.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
There are people all around us who are bound by the chains of sin, addictions, poor choices, and regret. The blood that Jesus Christ spilt on the cross bought their freedom! Will you resolve today to live a godly, obedient life, for the world around you to see? Will you resolve today to share the high cost of freedom from sin, by boldly proclaiming the gospel to a lost world while there’s still time? The words on that plaque in my home is only a partial quote. The entire quote reads as follows:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.” – C.T. Studd