Last Sunday, at our 4th of July celebration, we watched a short video about how much our flag has been through. It has been tattered and abused; trampled on and treated as worthless. It has been through wars. People have tried to destroy, it yet it still stands proud, representing our country. How touching it was to see the depth of what it cost for our freedom.

On this independence day, I realized that there is a great parallel between what the church has been through and what our flag has been through. Just as the flag stands for America, the church stands as a symbol of the heavenly country and the One who paid the price for its freedom.

Many enemies have tried to destroy the church of God. People have been martyred, blood has been shed, homes have been destroyed, family members threatened, livelihoods have been taken away. Those on the side of evil have mocked the church of God, they have trampled it under foot, and have done everything to see it wiped out completely. They hate what it stands for and Who it stands for. Others have pledged allegiance to it, only to turn their backs on it, in the midst of the spiritual battle. Those who hate the church have shot at it from every side, yet it still stands proud; representing the heavenly country and the One who gave His everything for its freedom from sin and death. The blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the church. What the enemy has meant for evil, the Lord has turned for the good.

The flag flies the highest and stands the proudest when it is at home. The horrible things it has been through were worth what it means to represent its people’s freedom. It is the same with the church of God. When we reach our heavenly country, we will then realize, even more, that the light and momentary trials have been worth the eternal weight of glory. Also we will be thankful to have represented the One who gave His all to set us free from sin.

My friend, what a day that will be when we enter eternity and are able to say to Jesus, face to face, You were worth every battle wound. Thank you for dying that I might live. I pray that I represented you well. If you have not yet pledged your allegiance to the Lamb of God, please do it while there is still time. You want to be standing on the right side when the battle is over.