A Statue of Liberty

As the statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp "beside the golden door," the Statue of Liberty on the hill outside Jerusalem illuminates the path to eternal life.

By Tosin 'Badeniyi, PhD
- July 4, 2023

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During the commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, Billy Graham was deeply moved by the profound significance attached to the multitude of immigrants who had willingly abandoned everything behind. Arriving in America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they courageously jeopardized their lives for a cause they cherished more than all they had left behind: freedom. These individuals never took the hard-earned liberty of their new homeland for granted, and it is incumbent upon Americans to do the same.

Their extraordinary journey serves as a powerful metaphor for our own transformation when we embrace Christ. We must relinquish our attachments to this worldly realm, forsake the allurements it offers, and become citizens of a new kingdom—the Kingdom of God. The Statue of Liberty, standing tall in the form of the Cross, symbolizes this truth.

As the statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp “beside the golden door,” the Statue of Liberty on the hill outside Jerusalem illuminates the path to eternal life.

Adapted from Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham.

Tosin 'Badeniyi, PhD

Tosin ‘Badeniyi, a Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at Durban University of Technology, South Africa, holds a doctoral degree in Food Science from University of Pretoria South Africa. Since 2001, he has conducted research and lectured internationally in the area of food quality and safety. He is the editor of Food Science and Technology: Trends and Future Prospects and has published numerous scientific publications as well as four inspirational books.