National Treasure

When in the course of human events………….Do you know how the Declaration of Independence begins?? Today, this famous document is two hundred and thirty-two years old, and we celebrate our nation’s birthday. We all go and celebrate with family and friends. We eat hot dogs and hamburgers. We watch fireworks and wave flags. But do you actually know what the document says.

I love to read the Declaration. I wish I could write like that, I wish I could think like that! A declaration of the rights that were given to them by the Creator....A declaration of the wrongs committed by the monarch....A declaration of outrage at their unfair treatment....A declaration of surprise at the treatment from their British “brethren”....A declaration of Independence to the world.

I wonder what it would look like if it were written in “politically correct” language of today. I don’t think it would pack the punch that it does, nor would it send the same message. These men were “traitors” and declaring the all-powerful King of England an unfit ruler and tyrant. These men were the movers and shakers of the time. Despite what you may have been told, most were Christians. They knew the Source of Power and the Source of Freedom.

References to God are found in four places in the Declaration. 1. “and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them.” 2. “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.” 3. “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World, for the Rectitude of our Intentions.” 4. “with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence.”

Read the Declaration. I know it can be found in many places on the web. You may not have read it in years, or you may have never read it. It is an amazing document, written by men that were confident in their place in God’s plan. It is full of wonderful ideas, beautiful language, and knowledge of the Creator.

And no matter what you hear, I don‘t think that there is a treasure map on the back.