God’s Love. God’s Justice

Every year on July 4, America celebrates its Independence Day. It was on this day the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, and the United States was born.

 

The basic premise of the Declaration was that King George III of England had shown himself unfaithful to his subjects. The Declaration goes on to list 27 grievances or accusations against the King stating these are the reasons for separation from England.

 

But it was more than that. In the beginning of the document, it states:

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

 

The idea is all rights come from God. Governments are only there to ensure the rights given to the people from God are protected. When governments continuously fail to fulfill their duties and become unfaithful to God and the people then the Declaration goes on to say:

 

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes

 

The Declaration then states that the king had done so many things to institute a tyrannical government upon his subjects that the citizens of America had no choice but to become independent.

 

The king had become unfaithful. There was no sense of freedom or liberty in the land since the king had become a tyrant and had treated his subjects in ways which were against the laws and precepts of God, the Creator. This was especially pertinent since the King of England was (and is) the head of the Church of England and, by being the head of the church, had even more responsibility to God than a normal king.

 

At the same time, the vast majority of men in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and people across America in 1776 held that Christ was King.  What was the difference in their eyes between King George III and Jesus? It came down to Jesus is faithful while King George III was not – and to such a degree that it necessitated a revolution.

 

The idea of being subjected to the King of Kings does not result in the loss of freedom. In fact it increases our freedom. It is the faithfulness of God which allows us to have true freedom.

 

Sarah knew of God’s faithfulness:

 

Hebrews 11:11

¹¹ By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 

 

Moses testified to it:

 

Deuteronomy 7:9

⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

 

Paul, of course, makes the ultimate intellectual statement:

 

2 Timothy 2:11-13

¹¹ The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

 

And we have seen His promises fulfilled.

 

-          He promised Noah he would be safe, and he was

-          He promised Abraham that his spiritual offspring would be as numerous as the stars – and they are

-          He promised the Israelites the Promised Land and they got it

-          He promised Judah they would pay for turning their backs on Him and they spent 70 years in exile

-          He promised a Messiah and Jesus fulfilled all that was prophesied of Him and more

-          Jesus promised He was able to lay down His life and then raise it up in 3 days – and He did

 

And so many others.

 

When Jesus comes back, Revelation puts it this way:

 

Revelation 19:11

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

 

Now, because of the faithfulness of God, He can say:

 

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

We come to Jesus not fully appreciating the extent of His faithfulness, but we soon begin realize it by experience or by reading His word.

 

I have heard, and personally experienced, so many examples of miracles for new believers; miracles which seem to come quickly and demonstrate how God’s promises of love and protection are true. Then, as we mature in the faith, the miracles seem to spread out more. It is almost as if we do not need them to remind us how faithful God always is.

 

We then realize that truly knowing the faithfulness of God is what allows us to be so much freer than we could ever have imagined. We have pledged our loyalty to a new King, but it is not the same as any earthly king.

We are free in Him because He is ever faithful. His promises are always fulfilled, and His word does not come back void.

 

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 

The yoke of slavery is the burden of sin which we had until we were set free from it by giving our hearts to Jesus.

 

Paul puts it this way:

 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 

But there is a responsibility with this freedom:

 

Galatians 5:13

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

 

Since our eternal King is so faithful, this allows us great peace and freedom. We are able to focus on Him and learn what plans He has for us because we know He loves us so much.