What are we willing to do to accomplish something great? Any time anything great is accomplished there is normally an individual or a group of people who are willing to sacrifice and work toward a common goal. Such was the case with the American Revolution which led to the birth of our nation.
This Wednesday we will celebrate our nation’s birth. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed declaring the intent of the colonies to be free from the tyranny of England.
But that Declaration didn’t just happen. Events had been unfolding for some time that led to this moment. One of those events took place in the Virginia House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775.
There, Patrick Henry urged the legislature to take military action against the encroaching British military force. The House was deeply divided, but was very much leaning toward not committing troops. As Henry stood in Saint John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, he ended his speech with his most famous words: Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
The crowd jumped up and shouted "To Arms! To Arms!". This speech is credited by some with single-handedly delivering the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War.
“Give me liberty or give me death!”
Patrick Henry wanted liberty so much he was willing to die if necessary. He declared that he would rather die in a quest for freedom than live in slavery. He wasn’t alone.
Our founding fathers shared the same passion for freedom. It was a passion that moved them and led them to take up arms in a battle for freedom.
Benjamin Franklin reportedly said as he signed the Declaration, “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” He wasn’t kidding. He knew that if the revolution failed, the signers of the Declaration would be tried and convicted of treason. But, Franklin and others were willing to pay that price for freedom.
Great causes and great projects require great commitment and sacrifice. Let’s thank the Lord for the freedom we enjoy as Americans and for those who sacrificed for our freedom.