The Statue of Liberty is an icon of our political freedom. The cross is an icon of our spiritual freedom.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to seal national friendship. The cross was a gift from God to seal divine sonship.
The Statue of Liberty features a female figure of the pagan goddess Libertas (the goddess of liberty who was widely worshipped in ancient Rome, especially among freed slaves). The cross featured a male figure of Jesus Christ—the visible form of the invisible God, the author of liberty, who is widely worshipped worldwide, especially among freed sinners.
Lady Liberty is clothed with a flowing gown (sculptures of Roman goddesses were often partly or totally naked). Christ was stripped naked so we can be clothed with His royal robe of imparted righteousness.
A crown of seven spikes or sun rays form a halo on Lady Liberty’s head representing the seven seas or the seven continents. A crown of thorns formed a halo on Christ’s head representing the curse of sin He bore for us.
A torch is in Lady Liberty’s right hand representing the light of freedom and enlightenment. Nails pierced Christ’s hands—the true Light of the World.
A tablet in Lady Liberty’s left hand is inscribed with the date July 4, 1776, to signify America’s birthday. Our name was inscribed in Christ’s palms to indicate our spiritual rebirth day (“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isa. 49:16, NKJV).
Under Lady Liberty’s foot is a broken shackle and chain which represent the broken chains of tyranny and oppression and the abolition of slavery. At the foot of the cross was a crushed serpent’s head representing the deliverance from slavery to sin, self and Satan (Gen. 3:15).
The pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty is mounted has a hallow rock containing the Declaration of Independence. The cross is spiritually anchored to the unshakeable rock of God’s Word—the declaration of His truth and our dependence upon Him.
The Statue of Liberty is an icon of hope and freedom for millions of immigrants who pass through New York harbor, the gateway to America, a passport to start a new and better life. The cross is an icon of hope and freedom for millions of sinners kneeling at Calvary, the gateway to heaven, the passport to start a new, abundant and eternal life.
The song says it well, “As the statue liberates the citizen, so the cross liberates the soul. Oh, the cross is my Statue of Liberty, it was there that my soul was set free; unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged cross is my Statue of Liberty!”
Consider this: If a false, pagan, Roman goddess can inspire hope and aspirations for political freedom to millions, how much more can the one, true, heavenly God (Jesus) bring hope and spiritual freedom to those who look to and kneel at the cross? We thank God for our political freedom, but we thank Him even more for our spiritual freedom.
As the Scripture inscribed on the Liberty Bell declares, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Lev. 25:10, KJV). Yes, the cross is our true Statue of Liberty!
Happy 246th Birthday America! {eoa}
Ben Godwin is the author of five books and pastors the Goodsprings Full Gospel Church. You can read more articles or order his books at bengodwin.org.
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