Sir William Wallace
Epic films are watched by millions of people from different generations. They are popular because they tell a great story or illustrate a timeless truth.
One of the classic films I have watched repeatedly is Braveheart, released in 1995. Mel Gibson played the part of William Wallace, who was the primary leader responsible for Scotland’s freedom from English tyranny.
Many classic quotes were included in the script; while getting his men ready for battle with the English, Wallace says these words to his men:
You have come to fight as free men and free men you are. What will you do with your freedom? Will you fight? Aye, fight and you may die, run and you will live, at lease a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom?
Freedom has two dimensions – external and internal.
Externally, our freedom is being assaulted by secular humanism, immorality, drugs, alcohol, abortions, pornography and rejection of the Judeo-Christian faith our country was founded upon. Sacred principles such as traditional marriage are being blatantly challenged by the homosexual community. A dark cloud of judgment is about to cover America.
Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, recently sent out a sobering plea to churches and Christian organizations throughout America for concentrated prayer during the first seven days in July to avert judgment. (Click here for more information.)
II Chronicles 7:14 gives us the recipe for reversing this wave of wickedness that threatens our land:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The second dimension of freedom in internal. Every form of government will fail if its people are slaves to sin. Sin is a dynamic power that separates us from God and causes us to live life on our own terms – we become our own gods.
The apostle Paul asks this question in Romans 7:24:
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
He gives the answer to this question in Romans 7:25:
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
This means that followers of Christ have the capacity to make right choices and live the right way.
The church in America is being called out to pursue its original mission, one that literally changed the Roman world in which they lived.
Romans 1:16-17 speak about the gospel’s power:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
This gospel changes people and people affect nations.
After World War II and the Korean War, America pleaded for missionaries to be sent to Korea. The Japanese had destroyed their culture prior to World War II and the influence of communism divided their land into North and South Korea. The North remained communist and is still in rebellion and isolation to the rest of the word.
South Korea’s destiny was affected by missionaries who introduced the gospel of Jesus. They filled a spiritual void left by the wars that ravaged their country. Today, some of the largest and most effective churches in the world make their home in South Korea. As a result of strong spiritual growth, South Korea has enjoyed economic strength and a rich quality of life.
As we approach July 4th, let’s proclaim the word of William Wallace before he died: Freedom!
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Freedom always expresses itself in serving others.
Happy Fourth of July!