Happy 1st of July

canada-day-fireworks

HAPPY 1st of July!

I know I’m a little early, but let me be the first to wish our Canadian friends Happy … Dominion … Fête du Canada … Canada Day! I’ve been the typical provincial U.S. citizen who didn’t know what was happening in the world much beyond his own country. I lived all this time without realizing that Canada celebrated it’s founding every July and they do it with Fireworks! I thought the U.S. invented celebrating with fireworks … or was that the Chinese? Oh well … I knew I liked our northern neighbor!

Our two countries’ histories are interconnected, similar and different. The U.S. constitutionalized, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while Canada talks about “Peace, order and good government.” U.S. independence came earlier (1776) and through a decisive revolution. Canada became a Dominion within the British Realm in 1867 and gained increasing autonomy from England. The last vestiges of British governmental influence slipped into history with the signing of the Constitution Act in 1982.

When I first learned about Canada’s gradual progress toward independence, I thought of the progressive nature of our walk of faith. Salvation is revolution and freedom gained by measures. Unlike the amicable relationship both the U.S and Canada maintain with Great Britain, sin is an enemy whose rule the Christian wants totally destroyed. That happened at the cross … that is happening because of the cross.
 
Romans 6 states that when Christ died and rose from the dead, he decisively defeated sin, so that we should no longer be slave to it (vs. 6). But in the same chapter, Paul makes it clear that we must daily choose to live in the freedom of that victory (vv. 11-13). Oh how I long for my Spiritual 1982. Either Christ will call me home or appear to take me home and then … all vestiges of sin’s rule will fall away.

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