The year was 1974. Neil Enloe, a 36-year-old singer and songwriter who had been saved as a 15-year-old had a moving experience aboard a cruise ship. While performing music on the ship, he took a break between sets and saw a sight that melded his patriotism with his Christianity. Three months later, he penned a song which is still sung today. The opening lyrics say:
In New York Harb
me.
On this day in 1885, a ship arrived from France carrying 200 cases packed with 350 pieces. The value of the gift in 1885 was $250,000 (over $5.5 million today). Once assembled and erected, the value of the gift is inestimable. It was the Statue of Liberty.
The Statue of Liberty has some impressive statistics. From the ground to the tip of the torch, it is just over 305 feet tall. While it’s not proper to ask a lady how much she weighs, this lady tops the scales at 156 – tons. That’s 312,000 pounds! She sits upon a concrete foundation that weighs 27,000 tons. “The Statue of Liberty boasts 354 steps to the crown and 215 steps to the pedestal, offering visitors a unique and physically rewarding experience while providing breathtaking views of New York Harbor.” And, a strong wind of 50 mph will cause her to sway up to 3 inches and her torch up to 6 inches. 1,2
The Statue was intended to celebrate a 100-year-old friendship between the United States and France. It also commemorated our Independence. On the tablet held by the Lady is the inscription JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776).
The original title of the statue was La Liberté éclairant le monde – Liberty Enlightening The World. On a plaque at the base of the monument, the words to Emma Lassus’ sonnet are written. The most famous of those words are “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Liberty’s torch is intended to light the way, shining the path to freedom.
We have something similar in Christianity. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they ma
y see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Like the Statue of Liberty, the Christian holds high the light of God’s Word and the truth of the Gospel message. Humanity, entrenched in their sins, are the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to be free. Attempts apart from Jesus have been made to secure that freedom and the weary sinners are left disappointed.
The Christian stands, holding Jesus high for all to see, shining the “light of the glorious Gospel,” and shouting the Gospel message for all to hear, crying a message of safety to those about to be dashed in the storm upon the rocky shores of life. We declare the Good News of freedom and liberty found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the Statue of Liberty stands throughout the harshest of storms, coldest of winters, and the blistering heat of summer, we must stand faithfully and continuously. May 
we share Christ with joy and excitement as we see the day of his return approaching.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
1https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/statue-statistics.htm
2https://storables.com/articles/how-many-stairs-in-the-statue-of-liberty/
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