Life, Liberty and Happiness: A 4th of July Testimony

I remember when I became a U.S. citizen. Good friends from church came out to support me. I was wearing a stunning red tie and smiling like a kid in a soccer store. It was a day I won’t forget.

As I enter this 4th of July, I find myself thankful, honored and overwhelmed with all sorts of feelings used to describe the story of a bare-footed little kid who grew up in Northeastern Brazil and now is a father of five living in this great country.

Sovereignty is good. It is right. And I believe there is much wisdom in that threefold pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness. By and large, this country provides the best and most excellent environment for the pursuit of this trinity of virtues. There is a swelling of movements in our day moving things in the right direction. This is the first 4th of July outside of the bondage of Roe v. Wade. God has been merciful and blessed us, and in this light, we should rejoice with greater fervor! He has answered our prayers and we should feast in gratitude. Yet, we must always be vigilant in using our liberties to worship the Three-and-One Creator instead of chasing after speechless idols. If we stand firm, Roe is only the first of many victories God has in store for his people.

Washington has become a place of secret handshakes, unwarranted transactions, political elitism, sophist rhetoric, and cowardice. We have traded happiness and found contentment in a pot of stew. We gave up the perilous fight to amuse ourselves to death. And for these reasons, we should find refuge in God’s unchanging nature and in the Church’s glory. When we chase the horses and chariots philosophy, we will succumb to the wrong power and source of wisdom.

On a day like this one, it is essential to give thanks for this nation, but keeping things in the right perspective is even more critical. We are first and foremost heavenly citizens planted in this bright-stars country to proclaim allegiance not to a president but to one true King. The intrinsic value of this nation does not grant life, liberty, and happiness; it is the inherent perfection of a heavenly country that urges us to such pursuits. And we should pray as visibly as the bombs bursting in the air that this nation would join that divine proclamation. After all, we are Americans. We are not pessimists. We know that even in the darkest moment of this country’s history, God is still on the throne, and He does not hit the pause button to the advances of his kingdom.

Happy 4th of July! Be good citizens of this nation. With every juicy bite of watermelon, with every patriotic song, with every red, white and blue decoration, give thanks to God. But don’t forget your first love. Don’t forget to sing psalms so loudly that the enemies will think there is an army of giants coming at them, to speak the truth so firmly that Washington will be unable to shut her ears. Love so convincingly that godly marriages would be honored. Obey the Lord your God, petition his mercy that God would spare us in doing evil and bless us in doing good. And may good triumph over evil in this land.