Do you believe freedom will reign and we will remain one nation under God forever? As Independence Day approaches, we the people, embrace and enjoy freedom that could be endangered. Writing about parades and flag-waving crowds lining streets across our land, hot dogs on the grill, swimming pools packed, fireworks lighting up the sky and people proudly proclaiming America to be the land of the brave and the free seemed patriotic and perfect. When the story would not surface, I knew He had something else in mind. Principles of liberty and our responsibility to preserve and protect freedom should be the hot topic for all Americans. Freedom doesn’t just happen. As responsible citizens, we must set and maintain guidelines in order to remain a free nation. Do we take our freedoms for granted?

Recently, while praying, I pictured a huge snake burrowing down in the ground around the back of my house. The creature slowly sank into the ground. There was no sign where the snake had been. Tracks were covered; it was completed submerged. In a split second the image of the snake was out of sight but not out of mind. ‘What does this mean’, I wondered?

I strongly sensed that Satan was the culprit and this image carried a message of freedom for Christians. Weeks ago, I wrote a story about a car chasing me down I-40. That car symbolized Satan staying on our bumpers and begging folks to fall for his fast-paced race to destruction. The image of the snake surfaced again with frightful messages. The snake was Satan, a monstrous, massive creature on a mission to destroy homes and families. Why would a snake surrounding houses surface for a story on Independence Day? Is the enemy trying to win our freedom? Have deceptive campaign tricks captured peoples’ hearts? Is the enemy in control? What in the world is happening as we turn heads and pretend things will be okay. Our nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all is being surrounded by the enemy and slowly destroyed one family at a time.

We must educate our people and eliminate the enemy’s devious attempts to control and conquer. In Galatians 6:7 we are told that people reap what they sow. This truth is seen in Christian education where planting seeds in the minds of people sprouts results. What are we growing in America? Are we honoring God’s growth process or compromising for worldly principles while planting bad seeds?

Being the first Christian nation, we are now reaping what our forefathers sowed. What people did, even before the American Revolution, impacts lives today. Generations ago, parents, teachers, pastors, especially politicians (statesmen) planted seeds that have kept us eating the fruit of freedom. Our nation was founded on Christian principles. Elected officials stood proudly to proclaim freedom and knelt humbly seeking guidance from God. Has the snake of deception and corruption slowly surrounded our houses of government? Like a boa constrictor that sucks the life from its prey, Satan’s plan to persuade political leaders and poison ‘we the people’ is toppling our nation like terrorists did the Twin Towers. Remembering that fearful day, Americans were stunned and sought safety at home. Satan realizes a man’s home is his castle and there is no place like,‘home sweet home’! His futile attempts to be victorious in the final battle cause him to fight harder than ever to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants control and knows it comes easier when people are divided.

Abe Lincoln understood the importance of Christian unity and taught our nation to stick together. His words of a house being divided against itself are still true today. President Abe Lincoln kneeling to pray and his public proclamation to seek God and preserve our freedoms still bless us today. He planted seeds that continue to bring forth good fruit for the nation he unified in a season when Satan sought to segregate and separate. What seeds are present day leaders planting?

Prayer and a foundation built on Christian principles have enabled America to survive attacks threatening to take our freedoms and trash our faith! No matter how deep the enemy burrows around our hearts and homes, workplaces and churches, he has no power over us when we belong to Jesus and proclaim victory and protection in God’s name

Are we endangered? The fruit we produce is proof of what we are. What would our forefathers think if they joined us for July 4th, 2012 celebrations? Surely, they would be aghast and agree much of the good harvest planted in their season has slowly spoiled. Satan slyly slithers deeper and deeper into the ground that we call home, stretching from sea to shining sea. His attacks will not stop until all the fruit we enjoy is completely rotten. He loathes the freedom we possess. America the beautiful, the land of the brave and the free has time to turn from the enemy and restore our relationship with our Father, who has already won the victory over the enemy. Let us step forward in unity, protect our liberties and preserve our Christian foundation.

Unity is how America began — 13 independent states joined together for a common cause. They believed it possible for a diversity of people to live together in a republican form of government where Christian virtues were valued and honored. Harmony and strength reign when people come together with internal unity of ideas and principles. The stronger the unity inside, the greater the unity will be displayed outwardly. Our actions show unity when we are truly unified. The season to show allegiance to Christ and preserve freedom forever is here.

The snake image dims in perspective with each word I write. The enemy would like to be a Trojan Horse, destroying America from the inside out. His devious attempts to defeat will continue until the last battle is won and he is thrown into the lake of fire. Until then, he will try any trick in his book, including burrowing down around hearts and homes. He hopes to weaken from within, destroy unity, break down families and kill freedom. Our internal unity is strengthened when we keep our hearts and homes in tune with God. We are empowered to stop Satan when we keep God first and trust and obey.

Celebrate Independence Day with a renewed faith and reverence for family and freedom. Hot dogs and apple pie, parades, patriotic programs, attending the church of your choice, family reunions, fireworks, and freedoms we enjoy are a few of our favorite things. When the enemy bites, when old Satan stings, when it looks like we will lose, we simply remember our favorite things and put our trust in the Lord.

Keep God first; kick Satan out the door. Keep love and honor alive in hearts and homes and freedom will ring forever more!