The Third of July

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July where we remember our Declaration of Independence from England. We declared that we were given rights by our Creator, not by government. July 3rd, had a different significance. We fought a Civil War to preserve that government. It is the day in 1863 where Lee was defeated in Gettysburg and where the tide of the Civil War turned and the die was cast that the south would lose. It was only a matter of time. A song became an anthem during the Civil War written by Julia Ward Howe. We all know the first verse which begins, Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LORD….but how often do we sing the last two verses? I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal"; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since God is marching on. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. Glory hallelujah! The song encouraged the union, but it underscored the battle between Satan and all that is good that God created. At the time of the fall, Satan, the serpent, went to war to divide us from God and God told him that an offspring of a woman would crush the head of the serpent with his heal. In this ongoing battle for the hearts of mankind Satan believed he would have a great victory at the cross, but it became his ultimate defeat as Jesus conquered death and seal Satan’s fate in a battle which shall continue till judgement day. If your soul has been swift to answer Jesus call to salvation we ask you to join us in communion.