These people feel as if they are under the oppression of another nation or people who do not have their best interests in mind. They feel as if they and their resources are being used for the benefit of those that rule over them. They seek to be free from this control so that they can make their own decisions.
Even here in the United States, we at least see this sentiment. I believe that there is an underlying and
perpetual movement in the state of Texas to secede from the Union and make
themselves an independent nation. We even see this on the local level, but in a
slightly different way. Some years ago, there was a somewhat significant
movement by many people here in the northern part of Wisconsin and those of the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan to break away from our respective states and form a
51st state in the United States. It was to be called the state of
Superior.
The End of the Pursuit for Independence
Although relatively few may be actually serious in these examples with
our states, there is at least a measure of legitimacy to most movements for
independence in our world. Had I been alive and living in America during the
time of our own struggle for Independence from King George of England some 250
years ago, I imagine that I would have been a supporter of it. And it is true
that we in the Northwoods we sometimes are obliged to live under certain laws
that are of no value to us, but only benefit the larger population areas of the
southern part of the state.
But you see, this thirst for independence can never be completely
quenched. Had the movement to form a state of Superior been successful several
years ago, by now it may have been that the people of the U.P. would be feeling
somewhat oppressed by us in the new
southern part of the state—those of us from Northern Wisconsin. We know that
the “yoopers”[1]
do have a culture and an economy that is distinct from here in Wisconsin in
some ways, and sooner or later those distinctions would start to cause
difficulties.
However, it would not even stop there, since the final drive of the
thirst for independence ultimately becomes personal. The truth is, we do not
want anyone telling us what to do.
Not our parents, not our teachers, not our bosses, not the government—no one.
Our own experience with the Covid-19 virus also illustrates this.
While virtually every medical expert is telling us that in areas of high risk
of infection, doing things like wearing face masks and keeping a “social
distance” of six feet can significantly reduce the spread of the disease,
people nevertheless pack themselves unprotected into bars or march down the
street to protest for some cause.
Their reply to the medical experts, the governors and local leaders who
urge them to be more careful:
“Freedom!” Often their response is nothing more than that single word.
Even at the cost of putting others in danger of their health and even
life, many are not willing to give up their own choices to participate in
activities that are totally discretionary, and only for their own pleasure.
The end of the matter is that actually, we do not even want God to tell
us what to do.
Independence in the Garden of Eden and at Babel
You can see that all this talk of independence is more confusing than what
often appears on the surface. While the drive for independence is important in
our present world and in many present political circumstances, if carried to
the extreme, it can also have detrimental consequences. In fact, this quest for
independence was first awakened within us by the very first enticement by Satan
in the Garden of Eden.
Satan said to Eve, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). The essence
of Satan’s temptation was that Adam and Eve would not need God to tell them what
to do, since they could act according to their own wisdom. They would be
independent from God.
This was also the failure at Babel. The purpose of their tower was not
for an observatory. It was not an overt altar to a false god, as is sometimes
taught. The statement of the people concerning it was to “make a name for
[them]selves, so that [they] would not be scattered abroad, over the face of
the earth” (Genesis 11:4).
This resolve for the people to remain concentrated in one area and not
to be scattered was their decision—not God’s. Quite to the contrary, God had
given men the commission to “fill the earth.” He wanted men and women to spread
out over the face of the globe to the places that he had created for them. The
people at Babel instead wanted to make their own name great. They wanted to make their own choices apart from
God. They wanted independence from God.
Independence for Ancient Israel
Similar stories continue through the pages of the Bible—stories of people
and nations who did not like the idea of living under the direction of God. The
early Israelites did not like the arrangement that God had made for them by
sending them prophets to speak his word. They instead wanted to have a king—one
of their own so that they could govern themselves.
This was not what God had wanted for them at that time. God viewed
himself as the one who was the sovereign over his people, but now they had
turned him away. God told Samuel the prophet, “They have rejected me from being
king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7).
This was when Saul was made king over Israel. Even though this story
is based in history and is political in nature, it is also a personal one—at
least, that is how I want you to think of it. Think of it in an allegorical
sense, for what happened to the nation Israel about three thousand years ago is
in some ways analogous to what happens to us today when we decide that we want
to rule our own lives instead of letting God rule them.
Israel wanted a king. They saw that the other nations around them had kings,
and they wished to be like them. If the nations could rule themselves, why
could not they?
Up until that time, the Israelites received their directions through
the prophets of God. A prophet of God in those days was more than someone who
sometimes told them about future events. That was actually one of their minor
roles.
The main occupation of a prophet was simply to tell the people what
God was saying to them. Samuel was the prophet of the Lord at that time, giving
to them the word of God. And now the nation of Israel was saying that they did
not want the word of God. They wanted to rule themselves. Saul became their
king.
A King Like the Other Nations
For a time, Saul seemed as if he would be a good king. Things went
well. He was a very humble man when we was first chosen to be their sovereign.
When Samuel told him that he was to become king, his response was, “Am I not a
Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of
all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this
way? (1 Samuel 9:21 NAS)
However, Saul quickly began to change. He began to let his position fill
him with pride so that he felt independent of needing to consult God about his
actions. At one particular point, Samuel told him, “You have acted foolishly;
you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God…the Lord would have
established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom will not
endure.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14a NAS)
What happened to Saul is similar to all who decide that their own way
can take precedence over God’s way. It begins all fine and we accept things
gratefully and humbly. But soon we find ourselves using our judgment in ways
that demonstrates that we have been removed from God’s input in our lives. We
become proud in our independence from God.
After the words of Samuel above, the prophet continues speaking to
Saul: “The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after his own heart, and the
Lord will appoint him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what
the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:14 NAS)
The Eternal Kingdom
That man who is described as being one with a heart like God was
David. Neither was this man perfect, as we well know, but he was one who stayed
sensitive to the fact that he was under the authority of God. When he did
something that was outside of God’s way, he repented.
The line of earthly kings who would rule in Israel passed from Saul to
David. This is perhaps significant in itself, but the most important part about
this is that the eternal king, Jesus Christ, arose from the lineage of David,
instead of that of Saul.
The Apostle Paul combined two separate Old Testament verses[2] and used them to quote the
words of God, saying: “I have found David…a man after my heart who will do
all my will. Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a
Savior, Jesus, as he promised” (Acts 13:22-23 ESV).
From this event, the human aspect of the Kingdom of God became
possible. When Jesus, the creator of all that there is, came to live with us as
a human, he introduced to us the Kingdom of God. He also made it possible for us,
as humans, to become part of that kingdom. The Kingdom of God is unlike any
kingdom or government that we see on earth; unlike any government that is ruled
by men and women. The Kingdom of God is ruled by God.
King Jesus
During the trial of Jesus, Pilate tried to confirm if Jesus actually
considered himself a king. To this, Jesus responded, “You say that I am a king.
For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the
truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice” (John 18:37 BSB).
In the mystery of the incarnation, God was made to be man in order to
redeem us. I will not go into all of the details at this point of why this was
necessary, and there is much about it that no one understands, but this is the
reality as given to us by God.
It is because of Jesus, coming from the line of David and at the same
time being the eternal Lord and King, that we are able to say that the kingdom
of David will endure forever. It is not that David himself will reign as king
forever, but the One who came from his line. It is Jesus Christ who is the
ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy of an eternal king.
The Apostle Paul put it this way: “David, after he served the purpose
of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and
underwent decay (to put it graphically). But He, whom God raised from the dead
(speaking of Jesus) did not undergo decay. Therefore, let it be known to you
brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” (Acts
13:36-38 NAS)
Our Personal Independence
This is where this history becomes relevant to us. This is where it
becomes personal. This is where our natural drive for independence, if we allow
it to remain unchecked, reaches a level that can become detrimental to our
souls.
For each one of us, there is a natural appeal to Satan’s words in the
Garden of Eden. “You shall become like God.” We all want to be our own
authority. None of us like someone else telling us what we should do. We want
to run our own lives. We want to become like God in this respect.
But God is telling us that should we choose that path, it will lead us
to eventual ruin. Like King Saul, for a time we may not notice a great deal of
difference in our lives. Gradually however, we will find that our own quest for
personal independence will lead us further and further into destruction.
If we allow it to, we will seek our independence even from God.
Happy Dependence Day
Yesterday we celebrated our independence as a nation and our freedom.
Today I would like to celebrate our dependence, and our true freedom in Jesus Christ.
At one time, when Jesus was speaking to some people of Israel, he told
them that once they came to know the truth of who he was, they would be free.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” Jesus
told them.
The Jews took offense at these words. “We are Abraham’s offspring and
have never been enslaved to anyone,” they answered him. “How is it that you
say, ‘You shall become free’?”
These people were depending upon their heritage for their
understanding of what it meant to live in freedom. Conveniently forgetting the
four hundred years that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, plus numerous
other times when their people had been slaves, they pridefully looked upon
themselves as if they had never known bondage. Never mind the fact that they
were at that moment under Roman occupation in their own land. How was it that
Jesus could be so brash to say to them, “You shall become free?”
But slavery to other nations was not even the point of what Jesus was making.
Even if they indeed had never been enslaved as a people, they would not know
true freedom without Jesus Christ. They would be enslaved to sin.
Slavery in America
We may not appeal to our ethnic heritage for our claim of knowing what
it is to live in freedom, as did the Jewish people of Jesus’ day. We instead
celebrate our national heritage. “We are Americans,” we say. “We have never
been enslaved by anyone.” At least we say this if we are white Americans. Our
own history tells us that other ethnic groups have indeed actually experienced
slavery.
But even that is not the heart of the matter. The message of Jesus to every
one of us is the same as it was to these Jews, our personal ethnic group does
not matter. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin…If therefore the Son
shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34,36 NAS).
Happy Dependence Day!
That freedom can only come by acknowledging our dependence upon Jesus
Christ. That is why today, instead of celebrating our independence, I would like to celebrate our dependence. Without Christ, we are all held in bondage. It is only
with Christ in us can those bonds be broken and can we walk in freedom.
Our celebration will not involve fireworks. We are not going to
organize a parade and throw candy. Our celebration involves a special meal. It
is the Lord’s meal. It is the meal that has been ordained by Jesus Christ that
we do in remembrance of him. We call this meal by various names in our
churches: Holy Communion, The Eucharist, The Lord’s Supper…there are others.
We may draw some meaning to this meal and understand some of its
significance, but there actually is no man, no denomination, no creed who is
able to say that they understand completely the deep meanings of the Lord’s
table. We are simply commanded to do it in remembrance of the life and work of
Jesus Christ.
That is why we invite all who know Jesus as their life are invited to
join in this celebration. For those of you, our guests who believe in Jesus as
your only means of salvation, we welcome you to join in with us. Who goes to a
family meal and is not invited to eat? This meal is for all the family of God,
redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
It is a holy celebration, sanctified by God, so we are not to do this
lightly and without thought. The Apostle Paul tells us that should we partake
of the Lord’s Supper in a lighthearted and unthinking manner, the consequences
can be quite severe indeed.
He says, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread
and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to
himself, if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29 NAS).
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