INDEPENDENCE DAY
I
grew up thinking Independence Day was July 4,1776, when the American colonists
declared their separation from the British Empire, signalling the beginning of
the United States. We in this country celebrate this great event in world
history annually and it truly is a day worth remembering.
A
couple of years ago another slant was put on the term "Independence
Day" when Martina McBride, a country singer, recorded a song with that
title. It's a story told from the perspective of a little girl who grew up in
a home with a drinking father who abused his wife. Fearing that her life and
the life of her daughter was in danger, the mother set fire to the house,
burning up the man and "liberating" the child to grow up in a more
wholesome environment, albeit in a foster home. Unfortunately, this violent
form of achieving perceived "independence" is occurring all too
often in our troubled society and the song and accompanying video is a sad
commentary that contrasts the ideals of July 4, with the realities of life in
modern America.
Still another "Independence Day" came to the theaters in 1996, when a spectacular movie displayed the dreaded alien invasion of earth that many people fear will one day come. As the movie unfolds, a giant spaceship half the size of the moon descends on our planet, discharging "smaller" vessels roughly 12 miles in diameter that hover over major cities around the globe until the unilateral strike is unleashed. The confusion, despair and panic that takes place prior to the actual destruction depicts the frailties and weaknesses of the people, as the sheer helplessness of the situation overwhelms everyone involved. Of course in the movie, a few heroes rise above it all and perform great deeds that, in the end, unite the world, thwart the invasion and save the planet.
But
what about the Ultimate Independence Day - The Day of Our Lord!? He will
"descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord" (I
Thess. 4:16-17). Paul goes on to say that the day will come like a thief in
the night and while people are talking about peace and safety, destruction
will come suddenly and no one will escape (I Thess. 5:3-4). Unlike the movie,
there will be no warning, no chance for redemption and no way to stave off
annihilation of the world. "The heavens will pass away with a roar and
the elements will be destroyed with intense heat and the earth and its' works
will be burned up (II Pet. 3:10). The horrible scenes from the movie will pale
in comparison to the wrath of God the Almighty.
Only
those in the kingdom will achieve true independence from all the pains,
trials, frustrations, temptations, petty arguments and persecutions of this
life (I Cor. 15:24 & Eph. 5:27). Those will live in bliss for eternity
with our Creator and our Christ. The masses of humanity, it is sad to say,
will be banished from the presence of God to an everlasting existence of
darkness and misery, confined forever to a judgment of separation from the
Light of goodness and truth. On that day most will panic, cowering in fear,
knowing they are on the verge of receiving their just reward. Some have not
believed at all; others have doubted. Most have put their own desires above
His and allowed the priorities of this life to come above those of the next.
Only those faithful unto death will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
Are you ready? Are you ready for the Judgment Day? Will the Day of the
Lord be an Independence Day or a Judgment Day for you? These are questions we
all need to ponder from time to time, wouldn't you say?
Richard
Bartholomew