“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a foundational phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, outlining unalienable rights endowed by our Creator.
The American Dream is a future grounded in hope, a promise to be grasped if given the opportunity. Often in our modern society we primarily tie this dream to acquiring wealth and what that wealth can purchase. Are we missing the point?
The hope and promise of the Gospel, that our founding fathers looked to for inspiration in writing these words, describes a path to follow for achieving life, liberty, and happiness.
LIFE: John 10:10 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Jesus tells us he is the author of life and the only way to fully experience it. Life is the first of three ideas stated in our Declaration of Independence. The founding fathers pledged their lives to this idea of a people free to pursue happiness in a new country not burdened by the weight of a foreign government whose primary purpose was satisfying its need for financial resources. Jesus was concerned about mortal life here on earth but more importantly establishing an environment that would eventually lead the believer to an immortal, spiritual life with Him and his Father in heaven.
LIBERTY: Luke 4:18-21 (ESV)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
Many Americans say we are free and point to the language and rights stated in United States Constitution. This is certainly understandable regarding U.S. citizens who are living in this land we call America. However, Jesus proclaiming liberty was focused on the eternal version of the person, the individual’s spirit. I will explore this concept more in the coming months but will leave you with this thought about how to relate spiritual liberty and how the believer finds himself many times in difficult, trying, maybe even life-threatening situations here on earth. My mother always told me during my years in school that no one can take away my education, meaning that what I have learned and placed in my mind can’t be enslaved or stolen by other people or the government. So, it is with the Spirit of God indwelling within an individual. The believer has internalized the knowledge and freedom allotted to us by God and we do not have to be a slave to the world.
HAPPINESS: Luke 19:1-6 (ESV)
“He (Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”
This is one of my favorite verses in Scripture as it describes the child-like joy that can be experienced by the believer when his relationship with God is restored as the result of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. For Zacchhaeus, he had a high position in the community and wealth but no joy (I’ll say happiness) until he met Jesus. True happiness is much more than the temporary “fix” of a pay raise or a new car. The pursuit of happiness allows us to fail but does not mean we are a failure. I grew up in dairy farm country. Farmers are a tough breed and all experience setbacks and failures. However, they do not give up, not because the government tells them they cannot, but because they are free – at liberty – to pursue their dreams.
My intent is to explore and expand on each of these areas reflecting on personal experiences, observations, and the real challenges to understand and wholly trust in Jesus Christ to deliver on God’s promises.
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