The term "stand fast" means resolute, refusing to budge. The world offers many yokes of bondage. For some it is addictions. For others abusive relationships. For others hardships and loneliness. A yoke is a device used to pair up oxen to get them to pull something. It is placed around the neck of the oxen. So the world places its yoke around our necks as well. The yoke of sin and slavery to sin is a heavy yoke to bear. The world would pull on our yoke and we would follow. We were indeed as Paul writes here, in bondage to it. As always, Jesus is the answer:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30 (NKJV).
The world doesn't allow such rest. The tyrant rarely allows rest for the oppressed. The labor becomes more and more wearisome. Our souls become heavy laden. That is what happens when we learn from the world. When we learn as the world learns. But Jesus is here saying to learn from Him. Why? Because while the world is harsh, Jesus is gentle. While the world is prideful, Jesus is lowly in heart. While the world never lets up, you will find rest in Jesus. For while the yoke of the world is hard and heavy; the yoke of Jesus is easy and light. Why? Because Jesus does all the heavy lifting beloved! That is liberty! That is what makes us free! Hallelujah!
Jefferson just misses the mark on the final benefit. He calls it the pursuit of happiness. As Christians we were pursued by God and now we have true happiness:
Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128: 1-2
You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. There is no wavering from the Psalmist. There is no uncertainty. We either put our trust in the things of this world or in God. We either believe what the world offers or what God offers. Psalm 146 outlines this:
Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Psalm 146: 3-4 (NKJV)
As we celebrate the 4th of July we see many placing their faith in one political party or another. Maybe a specific politician they believe will help them. But continuing on in Psalm 146 we see where true happiness comes from:
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, - Psalm 146: 5 (NKJV)
Neither man, nor any political party of man is your help. Only the God of Jacob is your help. Only through His help will your pursuit of happiness end in true joy. Why? Why trust God over the world? The Psalmist concludes:
Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever--Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! Psalm 146: 6-10 (NKJV)
Man did not make the heavens and earth. Man does not keep the truth forever. Man does not protect the oppressed. Only God does. The ways of the world will not lead to happiness. You are free to pursue it of course but looking for happiness in the world will not lead to joy. It will not lead to freedom. Only God will lead to true joy. Peter writes about this:
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, - 1Peter 1: 8
An inexpressible and glorious joy beloved. Perhaps what Thomas Jefferson was pursuing hundreds of years ago when he wrote so eloquently about being endowed by our creator. God has provided for us a permanent fund of benefits in Christ Jesus. Among those benefits are an eternal and abundant life. Among those benefits is liberty from all that would seek to bind us with the yoke of this world. Among those benefits endowed by God is and inexpressible and glorious joy. Joy so overflowing words cannot even be formed to describe it.
As we celebrate our Independence Day, remembering the words of patriots long since passed, let us remember also the word of Almighty God. It is within Him only that our pursuit ends. We no longer pursue happiness, a full life, or liberty we possess them. We remember the key verse from today which reminds us that who Jesus Christ sets free is free indeed. We need no declaration to the world. Our true independence is found only through our total dependence on He who sets us free.
