“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Thus begins the declaration of independence, which we celebrate this month. We celebrate the freedoms with which God has blessed this great nation of ours. We celebrate the freedom that is given to us from God. Even though we understand that our freedom and independence are build upon God, there are many threats to our freedom in our country today. Threats such as terrorism and nuclear weapons are great, but there is a greater threat than these to our country. A 1949 Life magazine editorial says it best: The greatest threat to civilization is godlessness. When we eliminate God from who we are as a country and how we are governed, we have in essence asked God to leave us alone.

So, if godlessness is the greatest threat to our country today, what does godlessness look like? Godlessness is what the church at Ephesus was guilty of: “Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Godlessness is:

• Creating substitutes for God
• Becoming more self-centered and less Christ-centered
• Rejecting the Bible as absolute truth
• Justifying sin
• Compromising biblical standards so as not to offend those who do no know Christ

And when godlessness has completed its task and fully persuaded a people to no longer honor or worship God, then this can be said of that people: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10).

I love my country! I love my freedom! Especially the freedom to worship the one true God. As you consider your freedom to worship the one true God this July fourth, make sure you are leading your family to worship and honor Him as well.

Bro. Richard