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We celebrate our American freedom by gathering on the Fourth of July with picnics, parades, and fireworks. We can celebrate because our military has fought courageously and sacrificially for that freedom.

Freedom Comes at a Cost

Over the 200+ years of this nation, mothers and fathers have watched their sons leave the security of their homes to enter the battlefields. Wives have said goodbye at army bases and navy ports, fighting back the tears as their husbands walked the cargo ramp or the gangway. Sons and daughters looked on wondering if their daddy would be safe.

The greatest sacrifice of war is those men and women who stand ready when duty calls. They know the sacrifice and have counted the cost acknowledging that the price they may be asked to pay is with their life. They willingly give their all because freedom doesn’t come free.

When I sat down to write this month, my mind wondered how many left the security of a home and family to risk their lives and ultimately paid the highest price for the freedoms we celebrate this holiday. Here are the results I found according to statista.com

Revolutionary War — 25,000

Civil War — 620,000 – 750,000

World War I — 116,516

World War II — 405,399

Korean War — 36,574

Vietnam War — 58,220

These numbers reflect the sacrifice made in defense of principles such as liberty, justice, and democracy.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13 (NIV)

This scripture captures the essence of the ultimate sacrifice made by military personnel, laying down their lives for the freedom and well-being of others.

The Sacrifice for Spiritual Freedom

Once upon a time, two people were placed in a beautiful, luscious garden. Here they had fellowship with God without shame, guilt, or oppression. But then they made a terrible mistake. Deceived by Satan, they disobeyed God causing a break in the fellowship they enjoyed between themselves and their Creator. Sin entered the world.

From that day forward, all of mankind walked in bondage tied to a yoke of slavery to sin. Hard as they may have tried to win the favor of God by keeping his laws, they failed each time. Animal sacrifices were set in place by God as atonement for their sins. It was only temporary, so sacrifices had to be made over and over again. Ultimately lambs, goats, doves and bulls were not enough.

God Had a Plan!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV)

In God’s infinite and gracious love, he sent Jesus to not only show us how to live but to atone for our sins, offer forgiveness and eternal life with him; to win the battle we could not win on our own.

The Final Sacrifice

Jesus, the perfect lamb, stood in our place and paid the price for our sin on the cross. He was the ultimate sacrificial substitute once and for all time. He bore the cross with honor because he had counted the cost and he was willing to pay the price.

As Jesus took his last breath, he muttered, “It is finished.” The forgiveness of sins had been paid for. But there was one last battle to fight at the tomb. His resurrection from the dead secured a victory over death. Freedom from sin and death was the bounty for the sacrifice of Christ’s life.

As we celebrate the freedom given to us through the sacrifices of our military, past and present, remember the greater sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for our spiritual freedom. Both sacrifices are acts of profound love and selflessness, and they call us to live in gratitude and reflection.

Saying goodbye to my dear husband was the worst day of my life but I celebrate the freedoms God gave us through Christ because death has no hold on us and we have the promise that as believers we will be reunited!

Heavenly Father, May we, as a nation and Your beloved children, celebrate not only the precious freedoms won by our military but the greater freedom we have through Christ. Help us to “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” Leviticus 25:10 (KJV) that others may experience and celebrate their own personal Fourth of July!