For those of us who live in the United States we are celebrating July 4th. Wikipedia describes this event as follows. Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Spending time with family and friends. Having a cookout. Going to see a fireworks display.

Have you paused and thought about the significance of this day? Do you even remember the courage, resolve and the sacrifice that hangs in the shadows of this day? What is it that drives this level of resolve, courage and sacrifice?

I could take this narrative in so many directions, but wanted to start in a place that one might not think about when it comes to the Fourth of July and that is living life, fully alive. So, where do we start? With a quote from Braveheart that my pastor recently shared.

William: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.

Short soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.

William: Yes, I’ve heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he’d consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his a@#. I am William Wallace, and I see before me an army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?

Tall soldier: Fight against that? No, we will run, and we will live.

William: Ay, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom.

Wow, this just takes my breath away!

There is a powerful message woven into this narrative and it strikes right to the heart of living life fully alive! Sure, these men were up against some major odds staring down the battle field seeing the mightiest army on the face of the earth at the time, but they found the resolve to press on. Are you getting the picture here?

So many of us these days are just barley existing, just dreaming about touching the fringes of living life fully alive! May something in this holiday stir something inside of you to find your resolve to stand for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, for Godliness and freedom.

…just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom. Can you imagine having the courage and resolve to step into this narrative, to tightly wrap courage around our fear and live life fully alive?

How does one begin to live fully alive? Where is the life we are created for? For me it begins and ends with Jesus Christ!

We may not be standing on a battleground opposite the English army, but we fight important battles every day. Our men and and women in the armed forces fight for our freedom, fathers are fighting to protect marriages and families, fill in the blank ______________. When we live life fully alive we can find the courage and resolve to face life head on, no matter what!

The promise of a life restored is found in the beauty of the gospel! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” That’s the offer from God Himself. Look at what happens when people are touched by Jesus — the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life. In other words, to be touched by God is to be fully restored. To become all God meant you to be. That is what walking it out with Jesus is supposed to do for you — make you whole, set you free, invite you to live life fully alive.

Does this describe your narrative? If not, why?

Are you ready to break out of “life as usual” and start living life fully alive?

May you live courageously from heart and live life fully alive!