The Ten Commandments

The authors of the American Declaration of Independence sent a clear message to their homeland and the nations of Europe. Great Britain’s king was a tyrant. The fledgling 13 states desired to be free of him and his government, which sponsored both political and personal oppression. The now-former British colonialists declared, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The decision to revolt was based on religious faith and principle. The king had taken away human rights bestowed on all men by the Creator God. The colonialists told the whole world that they were taking back their God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These simple assertions started a revolution that profoundly affected the course of world history. The inspiration gained from these words led to the birth of the single greatest nation in human history.

The thoughts put into words then still have their impact today. These few sentences have resonated deep within the hearts of millions not only in America, but also throughout the world. Human beings have no trouble understanding their timeless meaning.