Happy Independence Day Eve

Last year, my Independence Day article was published in the Quay County Sun on July 5. I lamented in that article the holiday is now commonly called July 4th by those who may not be as concerned about the history and meaning of the holiday as they are about having another day off from work and doing fun things such as fireworks. I recognize that many, including myself, also call it July 4th out of convenience, but the origin still has great meaning to us.

Generally, dates move backward one weekday from year to year, but because 2024 is a leap year, the day of week jumped backward another day after Feb. 29. Consequently, while July 5 was a Wednesday last year, the same Wednesday this year is July 3. Therefore, happy Day before Independence Day!

While pondering this article and realizing it’d be published on July 3, I wondered what was going through the minds of those who signed the Declaration of Independence that night before the signing and even if they slept at all. According to the National Archives website, Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration on the afternoon of July 4 after several revisions over the previous week, and though it was dated July 4, they reconvened on Aug. 2, 1776, for the signing, but even that wasn’t completed because not everyone was there.

So, while this is the eve of July 4 and Congress was working hard trying to finalize the document on that day in 1776, this question about the night before actually applies to the signers on Aug. 1 as they considered the potential magnitude of the Declaration of Independence leading to separation from England with the likelihood of military action by the king because his soldiers already occupied America. Knowing that many of the signers also were devout believers in God, I suspect they spent some time in prayer that night.

That’s consistent with what Jesus did when he faced major decisions, such as selecting his Apostles, or pending distress, including his death in the cross, though he knew he was going to rise from the dead (Luke 6:12; 22:39-54; John 10:17-18). I don’t think Jesus was so concerned about the physical punishment and pain from his impending death as about the separation from the other two entities of the Trinity, God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 27:24-46). That separation is the ultimate spiritual death – the wages for sin he paid for the world, although it’s effective only for those having an active belief in him (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Isaiah 59:1-2; John 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Romans 6:3-7; 1John 2:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-12).

As the signers of the Declaration of Independence likely prayed before that great event, we should pray daily for our nation’s leaders, as well as the world’s leaders, that we might live in peace to accomplish God’s will (1 Timothy 2:1-6; Ephesians 2:14-18). God will likely answer that prayer (1 John 5:14-15; Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 7:7-11).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].