Life, Liberty, & Pursuit of Happiness

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long estab- lished should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

On July 4th America will celebrate her freedom. Our constitution says our unalienable rights are Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness and these were endowed on us by our Creator, not our government. Our government acknowledged we have a Creator. We did not evolve and our rights come from God, not government. These three treasures are found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

LIFE

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matt 10:39

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24

Many people live and die without finding life! Many of these people find religion, but still do not find life. Life is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and only comes to us as we receive and enter into a relationship with Him. We must lose our life (die to it and turn from it) for Christ’s sake before we can find the Life we are looking for. It is so easy to cling to what we have, in fear we will not be fulfilled unless we do it ourselves. It is not in man to direct his steps. If we will by faith turn loose and let go of our plans and our will, God will give us life that will satisfy our souls. Many trust the Lord with the saving of their souls from their sins, but then think they can live their days without His leading. Jesus said,

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

The more we turn over to the Lord, the more abundantly we enjoy life. Are you living an abundant life?

We must hear His Word! Has His Word ever sunk down into your heart? Have you really heard Him? You might say you believe in God. So does the devil. Have you believed enough to cast your life upon that belief? If you have, you shall not come into condemnation and you have passed from death unto life.

Life comes from God and we have all been endowed with the unalienable right to that life. It’s free to all, but it must be received.

When I laid down my life for Christ, I did not know the verse,

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Ps 37:4

I was so delighted when I learned that the Lord cared about my heart’s desires, and would in His time and His way bring them about. After years of submitting to His leadership in my life I can say that He has given me every desire of my heart. He hasn’t given me every desire of my flesh, and He hasn’t done it the way I thought it should be done, but He has done it in a way that gives true satisfaction to my soul. Our life is a seed and until it is planted in the Lord we abide alone, but when we allow the Lord to plant us in Him we bring forth fruit and we are never alone.

LIBERTY

Liberty is the ability to move about freely. Jesus said He came to set the captives free.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19

Did you take a close look at what is available to us in the person of Christ? The poor can become rich in Christ, the brokenhearted can receive healing, the captive can receive deliverance, the blind can receive sight and the bruised can be set at liberty. We have all of this in the person of Christ. The government makes big promises but leaves big chains behind those promises. Jesus says,

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

Paul and Silas were in prison praying and singing at midnight! They were prisoners of men, but free in spirit. Freedom can only be free indeed if the spirit is free. We can be happy even though men bind our lives, but if we are totally free of man’s bondage and still are not free in our spirit, there is no freedom in our lives. Most fight against someone or something binding their lives, but never deal with their spirits. God says He is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Until we worship in spirit there is no liberty.

We live our daily lives within the “law of liberty” (James 1:25;2:12), yet most people cannot define that law. God gives us the liberty to do as we please, but we must remember that we get back what we give out. God returns our way upon our own heads. That’s why the golden rule is so important. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!!!

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

This verse sounds strange but it is very true.

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Job 5:17

A child that is well disciplined, is a happy child. There is a rest to your life when you learn self control, which is learned by sound discipline.

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his
ways.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Ps 128:1-2

Walking in the fear of the Lord produces a happy life. This is our un- alienable right, found only in our Creator.

…Editor