The United States recently commemorated two pivotal observances of national independence; the first to honor the complete cessation of slavery in 1865, officially termed “Juneteenth National Independence Day,” the latter, to acknowledge the two hundred and forty-eighth year of its Declaration of Independence from Britain. Each marks the official conclusion of vastly different kinds, eras, and varied degrees of human oppression; one, the deplorable, dehumanizing subjugation and exploitation of one race by another, the other, an extended subordination and taxation of migrant colonies by their motherland, despite the clear objective of their relocation in search for religious, civic and economic freedom. Civic independence is beautiful and undoubtedly transformational if it collectively forges the way forward and provides a platform for the quality of life and liberties the emancipated people desire.
God, the ultimate Emancipator, desires liberty for all1 and urges a lifestyle conducive to and promoting it – “At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.“2 His goal was to free humanity from the tyranny of sin3 and its administrative forces4 through Jesus’s self-sacrifice, which was so marvelously accomplished by His death.5 Seemingly paradoxical, He desires humanity’s total dependence on Him, a truth Paul succinctly captured in his famous sermon on Mars Hill, an excerpt of which states, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.”6 He expounded on the same to the Colossian followers of Jesus in this wise, ” … He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”7
The obvious antithesis of independence, broadly distinguished from the progressive outcomes of societal and historical events, is the concept of dependence. Biomedical and social sciences describe various degrees and types, pharmacology and psychology presiding over those with the most societal impact. Why then would God desire humanity’s absolute dependence? Is He a narcissistic or codependent personality, breeding an intense sense of self-importance and relevance to find purpose and meaning in life? Is He an evil oppressor, feeding an insatiable ego by subjugating the zenith of His creation, which was for dominion and innovative progress, to total reliance on Him? Does He have hidden and nefarious motives, enriching Himself and advancing His purposes and coffers at the expense of His helpless subjects?
No, the God of the universe does not require man to benefit or enhance Himself in any way. He is the self-existent, eternal God, Who existed before any form of life and creation. He was before time and will exist after its termination. He is uniquely transcendent and exclusively autogenous, requiring no other to exist, rule, or flourish. He is the Source of all life, breath, and anything imagined. He does not have or require an ego, being entirely and independently supreme; the Ruler and Creator of the Universe and beyond.8 His insistence on our dependence is entirely for our benefit. He is to man what air is to life – the very breath and essence of humanity’s existence. Every moment of life is dependent on His benevolence.9
… The LORD God formed man … and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.10
This means that outside of God, the wealthiest, most intelligent, educated, talented, innovative, influential, “you-name-it!” person has nothing and can do nothing.11 The only proof needed for this is reflective thinking – the withdrawal of that breath puts it into clear perspective.12 This may be a challenging contemplation for those who worship gods created by human skills or implements, or by the natural process of creation (e.g. animals of any sort, nature’s formations of rocks, mountains, water beds etc.}, end products of erosion, or solar elements), but I encourage such readers to examine the references in the bibliography below so they can grasp for themselves the immensity of God’s love, His passion for their wellbeing, and His all-round (eternal) plan of rescue through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He came to revolutionize humanity; every race, color, creed, class, religion, gender, tribe, and nation is included in that plan13. He does not discriminate or show partiality to one over the other.14
God wants you to be completely independent of sin and any ruling class or other psychosocial autocracy, but completely dependent on Him for your daily existence. This simply means that you recognize and regularly acknowledge Him as your only Source15 (readily understood by contemplating the intended cohesiveness and mutual loyalty of a married couple such that they become a “dynamic duo,” achieving tremendous goals and feats together to produce a lasting legacy, versus mere cohabitors with zero-to-minimal allegiance to one another, for whom polyarmory or a long litany of prior relationships is the acceptable norm, and whose certain end is an acrimonious, separation, low-level living, or any combination of an unfulfilled, fragmented and undesirable legacy), seek Him fervently as your life’s compass/Global Positioning System, and pursue His purposes in creating you – as your singular life’s goal16 (this encompasses many notable collateral assignments and impactful achievements).
Friend, are you living independently of God, going through life on the confidence of your gifts, skills, successes, financial or social status, etc., or are you living in complete dependence on Him through Jesus, as your very breath, sustenance, and inspiration for living?
Happy In Dependence!!
For Your In Dependence & Listening Pleasure
We Bless (Sinach & Travis Greene)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kDzXZXLpbNU&si=nvSzMGwp0LkTZjLm
You Are God Alone (Phillips, Craig & Dean)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=5MFZx-1QGqU&si=l3y8Qo1EdZ5rfyfS
You Are Worthy of It All (CeCe Winans)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=x1UT7vmoeFc&si=NwQT_4pzuKtUKbLw
This is the Air I Breathe (Joe Mettle)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJfNiQVbvo&si=61ixhpSRQS-gqdkC
Breathe (Dunsin Oyekan)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=X-uyiyGmIwU&si=7HrSPOgL5VOb-O6D
Breathe (Koinonia Worship)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DpPpuQhuB3I&si=7PSO3G9niPra0mrp
As The Deer Thirsts for The Water (Dennis Jernigan)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=C1CsZvHkkks&si=a8SuNcjHBmllUTAE
***
Bibliography
- 1 Timothy 2:4, 10; 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:15-17; Titus 2:11; Luke 24:47; Luke 1:77; Ezekiel 18:23, 32 ↩︎
- Galatians 5:1 (see also Romans 5:13; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Peter 2:16; John 8:31-36) ↩︎
- Romans 6:12,14; 8:2; 12; Matthew 1:21, 1 John 3:5; Colossians 1:14; Micah 7:19 ↩︎
- Colossians 1:13; 2:15; 1 John 3:8-9; Luke 10:18-19; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 4:2-6; Revelation 12:10-11; 1 John 4:4 ↩︎
- Romans 5:1; 8:1,37; 1 Corinthians 15:57 ↩︎
- Acts 17:28 (see verses 16-33 for full context) ↩︎
- Colossians 1:17 (see verses 15 -23 for full context) ↩︎
- Acts 17:25; Job 22:2; 35:6; Psalm 16:2 ↩︎
- Matthew 5:45; Psalms 16:5-6; 103:4-5; 145:16 ↩︎
- Genesis 2:7 (see also Job 12:10; 27:3; 33:4; Acts 17:25) ↩︎
- John 15:5b (see also Psalm 104:27-30; 146:4; 90:3; Ecclesiastes 12:3; Job 34:14-15) ↩︎
- Psalm 49:6-20; 73:18-19; Romans 9:20; Isaiah 29:16; 45:9-11; Job 33:13; 40:2 ↩︎
- Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 14:6; Colossians 3:11; Romans 10:12; Psalm 22:7;86:9; Isaiah 56:7 ↩︎
- Acts 10:34-35; Job 34:19; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25 ↩︎
- Exodus 20:1-7; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:4-15; 10:20; Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 7:3, John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 5:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:11 ↩︎
- John 18:37; John 4:34; 9:4; 17:4 ↩︎