John Adams on the thrilling occasion of the successful vote to make a formal Declaration of Independence wrote to his wife Abigail back at the farm in Massachusetts, “I am apt to believe that [this day] will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty” (David McCullough, John Adams, 2001, p. 130).
Language was drafted. A document was written. And on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was ratified, authenticated, and printed thus formally and publicly severing America’s allegiance with Great Britain. All of this, of course, was high treason; punishable by death—but the chance to create a better country from scratch was worth it.
It is a great page out of the history books; one that fills me with pride and gratitude. I wave the red, white, and blue with my chest out and my chin up. For many Americans this event is so sacred an event that even to suggest that it is eclipsed by a greater, a better, a higher idea sounds like betrayal.
Yet, there is something that eclipses even this euphoric nostalgia and reverie; as great and as proper as it is. Adams alluded to it himself in a letter written on the eve of the historic vote, “there is nothing on this side of Jerusalem of equal importance to mankind” (p. 126). America pales in comparison to the New Jerusalem.
Ours is a great history; but there is a better Story. Ours is a marvelous citizenship; but it is secondary at best to our true citizenship to the kingdom of Christ—just as real and true as our precious republic, and even more so, though it is temporarily invisible. Our ideal civil government with its genius balance of power, “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is gloriously eclipsed by “the Son given to us upon whose shoulders the government will be, whose name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Ours is a good country; but there is an even better country still…infinitely so. Come, Lord Jesus.
“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Language was drafted. A document was written. And on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was ratified, authenticated, and printed thus formally and publicly severing America’s allegiance with Great Britain. All of this, of course, was high treason; punishable by death—but the chance to create a better country from scratch was worth it.
It is a great page out of the history books; one that fills me with pride and gratitude. I wave the red, white, and blue with my chest out and my chin up. For many Americans this event is so sacred an event that even to suggest that it is eclipsed by a greater, a better, a higher idea sounds like betrayal.
Yet, there is something that eclipses even this euphoric nostalgia and reverie; as great and as proper as it is. Adams alluded to it himself in a letter written on the eve of the historic vote, “there is nothing on this side of Jerusalem of equal importance to mankind” (p. 126). America pales in comparison to the New Jerusalem.
Ours is a great history; but there is a better Story. Ours is a marvelous citizenship; but it is secondary at best to our true citizenship to the kingdom of Christ—just as real and true as our precious republic, and even more so, though it is temporarily invisible. Our ideal civil government with its genius balance of power, “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is gloriously eclipsed by “the Son given to us upon whose shoulders the government will be, whose name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Ours is a good country; but there is an even better country still…infinitely so. Come, Lord Jesus.
“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
