Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  Eph 5:4

One of the greatest symbols of the entire world is the Statue of Liberty located on the 12 acre parcel called Ellis Island.  Presented to the people of the United States as a gift from the people of France, The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World is the universal representation of freedom and democracy. Dedicated on October 26, 1886, it became a National Monument in 1924.  A major restoration was aptly celebrated just over fifty-five years ago on July 4, 1966.  In our message today, may only the purest light be shed our way.

When people from other parts of the world came to America, they stopped here to register and entered into this nation.  Certainly not perfect, but there was an ordered and hospitable purpose to welcome people, no matter what color, nationality, age, sex, religion, or income level.

It is not only a stone and metal symbol, but one alive with integrity and a corresponding spirit announcing a new start and a hope of a prosperous future.

These days the Statue of Liberty remains as a symbol and image but the underlying character of the hospitality of this great nation has been grossly disturbed.  The light of the torch has dimmed close to darkness with the character of anarchy and reckless abandon close to showing its full force. The pure heart, the sound mind, and the calm sensibility of welcoming immigrants through registration and ordered hospitality are now left to open borders and the elements of chaos. Our will to persevere in doing the right and simple process is tossed for the politically selfish, cheapest, and easiest way.

Where does the spirit of this nation or the attitude of liberty and hospitality come from?  Do we really believe it accidentally evolved somewhere in the eons of pond sludge, in some cave deliberation, or in the Galapagos Islands?   May I be so bold as to suggest that we look in the Bible too many even refuse to consider.

The real and living statue of liberty is the Cross where Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead to overcome death and the grave.  Scripture says, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believed in Him would have everlasting life. God is a Spirit and Where the Spirit of the Lord is…. there is liberty.

All of us are told to pick up our cross daily.  When we do that we register directly with the God that created life to begin with and the One and Only who inspired this Nation.  Men may fall, statues may disintegrate, but the love of God never fails.

The only freedom we’ll ever experience is at the real living statue of liberty…the Cross.  There we find Love and Freedom Fighter Himself and His name is Jesus Christ. It’s our individual choice to register into His boundless, yet righteous Kingdom by accepting Him openly, gratefully, and willingly into our heart.

John 3:16; 2 Cor 3:17