Growing up with so much family in Georgia, I have a lot of memories of going to White Water, Six Flags, and Stone Mountain. All of them were special occasions and not a normal occurrence. As a preacher’s kid, money was often in short supply, so my parents perfected the art of coupons and figuring out how to make it work. We would go to White Water on group discounts (my dad was the youth leader, so we took advantage), Six Flags would be an adventure in the middle of the week (the less popular days), and Stone Mountain we would never do any of the extras (no train, no mountain lift – we had to hike the mountain in the heat, and we always packed a lunch). My favorite out of all three of those places, in the end, is Stone Mountain. No roller coasters, no lazy rivers or Splash Water Falls, just a mountain of granite making a show above ground.
Sure, I love Six Flags, but with age comes a healthy respect for gravity and a better understanding of the dangers that lurk just out of view. Still, I have a lot of great memories with friends, family, and cousins. White Water is probably my second favorite because I love the water! All of the water slides were a blast, but I really enjoyed the wave pool and the lazy river. When living in the hot and humid land of the South, White Water was a great way to cool off. What captures my heart in regards to Stone Mountain is more on the patriotic side. Whenever we spent the day at Stone Mountain, the laser light show was the grand finale. To this day, I’ve never witnessed a show equal to it.
I’m not writing a post to promote Stone Mountain, Six Flags or White Water. I bring them up because they bring up a lot of wonderful memories. Memories help to shape us – shape our thoughts, actions, and even beliefs. Because of Six Flags and one day spent there in particular, I have a stronger bond with many of my cousins. I know that they are people that I can count on – not just as family, but as friends. With Stone Mountain, I have a strong appreciation for our military and all that have sacrificed for our freedom. Memories of fireworks and the laser light show set to patriotic music (think Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA”) while being able to sit without fear with my family on a picnic blanket has deeply rooted a sense of responsibility in the freedom of my country.
While I don’t have memories of the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence, I wasn’t physically present when it was voted on (this happened on July 2, 1776, with a 12 to 0 vote), and I wasn’t physically present when it was later signed (again) the next month when they signed believing that they were actually signing their own death warrant (according to Benjamin Rush). But their bravery, boldness, and sacrifice – even with the unpatriotic practices we see in our elected officials – lives on to this day.
As a member of the human race and a Christian, I also don’t have memories of God creating the universe, Noah building the ark, Jericho falling at the sounds of trumpets and shouting, David defeating Goliath, or Daniel surviving a night spent with lions. But great insight is gained from all of those moments in history. The universe didn’t accidentally form, God’s promise came with a symbol of peace – and it’s not something that represents some of the sins that brought about the flood, Jericho displays proof of God’s grace and mercy to even a prostitute who believed and feared God, David defeating Goliath is proof that God can and does bring about victory when all looks bleak, and Daniel was no lion whisperer but was rewarded for his faith.
I was also not present when Jesus was born, walked the earth, healed the sick, fed the multitudes, brought people back from the dead, or walked on water. He never washed my feet, I didn’t see Him arrested, and I didn’t chant for Barabbas to be freed. I didn’t witness the brutal beatings He endured, I didn’t see Him struggle under the weight of the cross, and I didn’t see Him nailed to it and put on display. I didn’t see Him struggle for air, I didn’t hear Him extend grace to the thief hanging beside Him, and I didn’t hear Him utter His last words before giving up His life – “Tetelestai!” (If you missed my post on that beautiful word, here’s a link for easy access: It’s All Greek to Me).
There are so many who fully believe in the validity of America’s founding documents and how they apply to our lives today, but we seem to struggle with this in regards to our status of freedom as children of God. Some view grace as a get out of jail free card (for my views on that, please take a look at a recent post: Grace ≠ Licentiousness) while others – myself included – believe that we are only seeing a bucket-full and still missing the vast ocean. As an American, it’s important to know the history of how our country came to be, just like it’s vitally important for a Christian to know what Jesus accomplished for us.
While COVID took some swings at the world in a very strategic way, I have gotten more involved in the education of my kiddos. There’s no critical race theory, no sex ed classes that explain transgender anything, and old math is still quite functional thank you very much. And like many private schools, cursive writing is not to be ignored. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to read our original founding documents without knowing how to read cursive? It would be similar to trying to decipher a foreign language! While I’m not teaching my kiddos Greek and Latin – yet – I do believe it’s important to know how to understand present tense, past tense, and perfect tense when it comes to reading the Bible. How else are we going to even begin to understand what Jesus died to give us?
I grew up hearing that, even though I was saved and my sins had been forgiven, I needed to seek forgiveness for all of the sins I would commit in the future. It’s the equivalent of hearing that you’re saved, but you’re not if you have something unforgiven. Take a look at the verse below and then focus on the fourth word.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” Ephesians 1:7-8 abridged (NIV)
Have… in the Greek text, the verb used for “have” is in the present tense. While I’m not going to bore you with a Grammar lesson, this means that “have” indicates durative action – meaning we are continually having forgiveness of sins. Even sins we’ve yet to commit. Notice also that this forgiveness is in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. He doesn’t give in stingy ways, a little here and a little there, but lavishes us with the riches of His grace! That’s an outpouring, a deluge, an extravagant quantity! Let’s look at a scripture that details a perfect tense scenario:
“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” I John 2:12 (NKJV)
While I’ve mentioned “perfect tense” in other posts, let me explain what it means. Perfect tense is an action completed at a specific point in time in the past with results continuing into the present – in some contexts the results are permanent. The words “are forgiven” in the verse above are translated from the Greek word “aphiemi.” This word depicts an action which causes total separation from a previous condition (the penalty and power of sin in our lives) and is used in the perfect tense. Our sins are forgiven. This happened over 2,000 years ago, causing a total separation from our previous condition. We were full of sin and unrighteousness, but now we have total separation from that previous condition.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
Total. Separation. We have redemption, our sins are forgiven, our transgressions are removed from us and blotted out, and they are remembered no more. Total. Separation.
With Independence Day fresh on my mind, while I was not there to witness the voting and the signing and the war that followed in order to gain freedom for our nation, I live with the results of the sacrifices made by so many. While I was not present to witness Jesus take on my sins – and not just mine, but the sins of the whole world ( I John 2:2) – and die on the cross as sin for me, I get to live in total separation from that which was going to send me to hell. There is now no condemnation for my sins – all of them were forgiven over 2,000 years ago.
Do you believe that your past, present and future sins are forgiven? Or are you living under an unnecessary weight of guilt and condemnation? As much as I have faith and confidence in my freedom as an American, I have an even greater faith and confidence in my salvation. Jesus, in prefect tense, provided total separation from us, His beloved children, and sin. Now that’s something to celebrate.
God is Just and Gracious