As we move towards the 4th of July, it’s amazing to think that our Earthly Country is 250 years old! I was 13 years old for the Bicentennial, but I seriously doubt I will be alive for the Tricentennial. After all, I’d be 113 years old.
The Bicentennial was an amazing time to be alive. All kinds of memorabilia was sold with various versions of 1776-1976 plastered all over them. There was special money minted, just for the Bicentennial. There were large silver dollars, half dollars and quarters. There were even 2-dollar bills! I have some of these coins and bills stashed away, but they aren’t worth much more than face value, but maybe my great-grandkids will think they are cool someday!
On the 4th of July in 1976, we went to Fort Leonard Wood to watch the fireworks. They shot the fireworks from artillery pieces! The low-lying areas were filled with black powder smoke, and I imagined being on a Revolutionary war battlefield. It was amazing!
After 50 years, many changes have happened. The tech giant, Apple was founded that year. The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, was unveiled. Charlie’s Angels, and the Muppet show debuted in 1976, and Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer from Georgia with a huge smile, became our President. All these changes affected our world, to greater or lesser extent.
While we love our “earthly country,” it is not home. As Christians, we are to be good citizens of our earthly place of residence. But our true home takes precedent.
Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB95) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Christians are called to live as “Citizens of Heaven.” Some Christians are blessed to live in places that allow us the freedom to worship God publicly, in the way Scripture tells us to worship. Other Christians aren’t so lucky! Being a “good citizen” in a place that makes it difficult to follow Jesus takes determination! Regardless of our circumstances, we are, when obedience to “authorities” doesn’t conflict with our obedience to God, to be model citizens.
1 Peter 2:11–15 (NASB95) Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
As we Celebrate the 250th of the United States of America, don’t forget your true home! As we honor living in the greatest earthly nation, remember where our true allegiance and citizenship belongs. Enjoy the fireworks. Enjoy the “hoopla!” But keep in mind that “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through….”
Celebrating, right next to you!
John
