When was the last time you read the Declaration of Independence? (You can read the text here: http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm)
Thomas Jefferson was only 33 when he wrote it. Though expressing the desire of the majority of the colonies, to the rest of the world, it was a radical, dangerous document.
It declared a nation's right to rise up against a government that did not govern with justice...not very popular with kings and queens who rule by what they considered divine right.
Though we celebrate July 4th, 1776 as a glorious, pivotal day in the history of our great nation, that year held little to celebrate for the colonies as England brought its powerful military machine to bear on these primitive colonists. No real victories were won by the colonies.
Still they persevered, and finally, slowly the tide was turned which eventually resulted in our victory. So let us never forget that those who signed the Declaration of Independence were not simply making a statement of belief, but were making a life-altering (for them and for those who would follow) decision to support their declaration with action. Let us never forget the last line of this great document: And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
The freedom won by our forefathers, and given by Our Father in Heaven, was never meant to be used to indulge selfishness, but to give ourselves to purposes far greater than our own desires. Check out 1 Cor. 10:23,24:" Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."
Thomas Jefferson was only 33 when he wrote it. Though expressing the desire of the majority of the colonies, to the rest of the world, it was a radical, dangerous document.
It declared a nation's right to rise up against a government that did not govern with justice...not very popular with kings and queens who rule by what they considered divine right.
Though we celebrate July 4th, 1776 as a glorious, pivotal day in the history of our great nation, that year held little to celebrate for the colonies as England brought its powerful military machine to bear on these primitive colonists. No real victories were won by the colonies.
Still they persevered, and finally, slowly the tide was turned which eventually resulted in our victory. So let us never forget that those who signed the Declaration of Independence were not simply making a statement of belief, but were making a life-altering (for them and for those who would follow) decision to support their declaration with action. Let us never forget the last line of this great document: And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
The freedom won by our forefathers, and given by Our Father in Heaven, was never meant to be used to indulge selfishness, but to give ourselves to purposes far greater than our own desires. Check out 1 Cor. 10:23,24:" Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."
