Re-Committing to the Ideals of Freedom
Abe Lincoln had an unparalleled love for the Declaration of Independence, yet he mourned what had become of the celebration of Independence Day. "In a letter in 1855 despairing of ending slavery," reports Rich Lowry of Fox News, "Lincoln wrote to the Kentuckian George Robertson that 'the fourth of July has not quite dwindled away; it is still a great day--for burning fire-crackers!!!'"
He longed for our country to celebrate and recommit to the ideals of the founding fathers--that all men are created equal. Lowry reports:
In his great anti-slavery speech in Peoria in 1854, he said, “I love the sentiments of those old time men.” …
Lincoln wanted to catch the falling flag of our patriotic patrimony. Lincoln urged that we “re-adopt” the Declaration, as he put it at Peoria. The road to salvation ran through 1776, he argued in one passage: “Our republican robe is soiled, and trailed in the dust. Let us re-purify it. Let us turn and wash it white, in the spirit, if not the blood, of the Revolution.”
In the pursuit for freedom, Lincoln feared that our country had lost its first love, neglecting at best, and defying at worst, the principles of liberty for all.
If the pursuit of political freedom is to be celebrated and commemorated, how much more should be the pursuit of spiritual freedom! Yet as a church, and as individual members of that church, we continually run the risk of losing our first love. Our robe of righteousness is all too easily "soiled and trailed in the dust." We must "re-purify" it. We must "wash it white, in the spirit, if not in the blood," of Lamb God who takes away the sins of the world.
In Christ we are all created equal and free, and our great calling is bringing that message of equality and freedom in Christ to every generation.
"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent …" (Revelation 2:4-5, NASB).
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).
Waving The Flag of Faith
In 2012, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags was $3.8 million. The vast majority of this amount ($3.6 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Conversely, that same year, the dollar value of U.S. flags exported was only $614,115. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $188,824 worth.
One has to wonder how long America can continue to prosper when it no longer exports even the most basic symbols of Americana. The same could be asked of the Church. Does the Church continue to influence the world more than the world influences the Church?
From the very beginning Jesus made it clear that the mission and commission of the Church was to export the Gospel to the ends of the earth. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …" (Matthew 28:19; c.f. Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47). "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
This Fourth of July, as we see those imported American Flags flapping in the breeze, let's wave our flags of faith, recommitting ourselves to exporting the genuine Gospel message into our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, and "to the ends of the earth."
Boy Hero Bargains With God
News outlets the world over recently reported (January 30, 2026) of the heroic efforts of 13 year old Austin Appelbee who fought high seas, fear, and fatigue to rescue his family from certain death. One outlet reports it this way:
Austin, his mother Joanne, 12-year-old brother Beau, and 8-year-old sister Grace were on a vacation in Quindalup, Australia, when, on Jan. 30, they took their kayak and inflatable paddleboards out on Geographe Bay, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports. At the time, the waters were calm, so they left their picnic basket, food, and water on the beach.
Soon, though, the waters became rough and the kayak flipped. It also began filling with water and the family was pushed farther and farther out to sea.
Austin tried to swim, dragging the rest of his family in the kayak, back to shore before his mother sent him to go get help. She said it was one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make.
“I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she said. “I would have never went because I wouldn’t have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody.”
Austin let go of the kayak and took off his life jacket, which he said was impeding his swimming. He swam for four hours.
“I was trying to get the happiest things in my head, and trying to make it through, and not the bad things that would distract me,” Austin told ABC.
So young Austin focused on simple, childhood motivators to keep himself focused. Think Thomas the Tank Engine ("Little engines can do big things!") meets Dory from Finding Nemo. In his own words, “I just kept thinking ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming.’”
When he finally got to the beach he still had to sprint to a phone to call for help. "I need helicopters, I need planes, I need boats, my family’s out at sea!"
“I don’t think it was actually me doing that,” he said. "It was God the whole time. I kept on praying, I kept on praying.”
Austin knew that in that harrowing situation that God was going to be the answer. He simply couldn't do this on His own. Yet in His fear and uncertainty young Austin began bargaining with God, promising the Almighty that if He woud just get him to shore then he "would get baptized" and "go to church" (which indeed he did the following Sunday).
Click here to watch his interview with ABC news.
Nothing can diminish the unprecidented bravery, strength, and determination of this young hero. And hopefully, his recognition that it was God alone who could pull him and his family through this harrowing situation will provide lasting inspiration and motivation to continuing drawing near to the Lord, not just in rough seas, but in every moment of his life journey.
Yet young Austin has much to learn about the God to whom He cried out in his desparation. God's love, grace, deliverance, provision, and protection cannot be bargained for. "If you do this for me, I'll do that for you." Yet so often, for so many of us much older and supposedly wiser than our young hero, this is our natural, knee-jerk reaction.
God's love and grace are free gifts that stem from His heart and nature, not from our devotion or good works. No amount of obedience or sacrifice can trick Him into loving us. "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NIV).
Christian author and pastor, Dr. Paul Tripp notes, "Some Christians have argued that there are [indeed] bargains in Scripture in which God seems to have willingly participated. One of the prime examples is Hannah."
“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11, ESV)
At first glance, this does look like a bargain with God, and in fact, God did give Hannah a son. However, the story needs closer examination. Hannah has a conversation with Eli, the priest, “then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (v. 18)
[You will know] if you are striking a bargain with God, [if] it is only after you have received what you wanted that you experience positive emotions and celebrate getting what you wanted. Not so for Hannah. She is not waiting for the birth of her baby for joy and peace to return; she has it now.
Hannah’s prayer was not a negotiation with God to get her desire but an abandonment of her desire—yes, even a biblical one—for an even better one.
Rather than being consumed solely by her own purpose, she chooses to be captivated by God’s. Rather than attaching a happy life to the fulfillment of her own desires, she finds life in the success of God’s kingdom.
So he rightly observes:
Hannah is not negotiating with God for a son. Of course, she desires a son—a beautiful, biblical desire—but she is letting go of this desire to grab hold of and submit something infinitely better: God’s perfect, wise, and loving will for her life.
Here's Tripp's punchline ...
'Don’t stop asking God to fulfill the desires of your heart, but also never stop asking God to expose whether these desires are horizontal and self-serving rather than vertical and God-honoring. When your desires belong to the Lord, and you are fully content in him, you can experience the best and brightest of lives, no matter how he answers your prayers.'
As the Lord himself prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, ESV).
God did indeed show up for young Austin in his time of need, but not because our young hero promised him acts of devotion. There are no doubt many, albeit metaphorical, "rough seas" in Austin's future. To meet the challenges, let's pray this young man learns and grows in his faith, laying down his bargaining tools, simply coming to rest and trust in God's great love and grace freely offered.
He's off to a great start ... what a hero!