Dependence Day
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
As I have thought about the history of the world and the development of various nations and people groups throughout the world, it seems more and more clear to me that God knows what He is doing. And one of the things He seems to have done is to give cultures, societies and nations certain distinctives or characteristics. For instance, when we think of the ancient Greeks, we think of philosophy. When we think of the ancient Celts, we think of strong passion. When we think of the medieval Germans, we think of efficiency.
However, along with that characteristic that God gives a people, He also seems to give a flaw. And usually, that flaw coincides with the characteristic. The thing that makes a nation strong, also tends to be it’s downfall.
When I consider the USA, as is appropriate this week and as I consider our history, what might we say is America’s strong characteristic? A quick glance at the birth of our nation tells us that our strength is our love of freedom. Our founding document is called the “Declaration of INDEPENDENCE.” We are the home of the free. Our Freedoms, our independence, our self-sufficiency have made our nation great.
But they are also the source of our downfall, I fear. Our belief in self-sufficiency has led to a lack of God-sufficiency. Our tight two-armed grasp of freedom has made us forget that we are bond slaves of our Savior. Our love of independence has caused us to forget that we are dependent upon God.
Perhaps we need a Declaration of Dependence to sit alongside our Declaration of Independence. A declaration that reminds us of our need for God… of our dependence on Him.
William Wallace, the Scottish patriot, was tried for treason in London in the early 14th century. His main defense was that he had never declared that Edward was his king. The studied answer of the crown was that that made no difference. Edward was his king whether acknowledged or not.
That is how it is with God. He IS sovereign. We ARE dependent. Not because we declare it… not because we want it… not because it makes us feel safe. But simply because that is the underlying truth of mankind’s existence.
We are dependent on Him.