Freedom in Life, But Torment in Death

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. And this single reflection well applied is sufficient to awaken every man to duty.” – Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was born on February 9, 1736, in Thetford, Norfolk, England. With the help of Benjamin Franklin, he emigrated to the American colonies in 1774 and published a 47-page pamphlet titled Common Sense that made a compelling argument for American independence from Great Britian. It is estimated that virtually every colonist who was literate read Common Sense as well as The American Crisis, which he wrote and published in installments between 1776 and 1783.

Following the Revolutionary War, Paine moved back to England where he wrote Rights of Man, a spirited defense of the French Revolution, in 1791. British officials feared that Paine’s writings would inspire a similar revolution there and so, he fled to France. While there, Paine was tried and convicted in absentia of libeling British conservative writer Edmund Burke.

Paine’s increasingly radical political views led to a stint in prison, but he was released after James Monroe used his diplomatic connections to secure his freedom in 1794. The following year, Paine published his last great essay, “The Age of Reason,” a controversial critique of institutionalized religion and Christian theology. Coupled with an open letter he wrote to George Washington in which he denounced him as an incompetent general and a hypocrite, Paine became increasingly unpopular on both sides of the Atlantic.

Paine returned to the U.S. in 1802 and died on June 8, 1809, in Greenwich Village in New York City. Because he had alienated so many of his former friends, just six people attended Paine’s funeral. On his deathbed, Paine’s doctor asked him if he wished to accept Jesus Christ before passing. “I have no wish to believe on that subject,” Paine replied before taking his final breath.

Based on his dying words, I am fairly certain that I won’t see Thomas Paine in heaven and that is tragic. After all, God used him to spur the American Revolution and I especially admire – and echo – the sentiments he expressed in today’s quote.

Yes, just like Thomas Paine, I would rather fight and suffer now so that my children and grandchildren will enjoy peace and have a better life. I only wish he had trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior when he had the chance.

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:23 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President