Freedom

Freedom is one of mankind’s most cherished goals and drives.  It is a powerful component in the human psyche.  It drives people to leave their homeland and family to seek this value in other countries such as the United States.

It is much of what July 4^this about – that our forefathers stood against a king and government that greatly restricted freedom and came together in June of 1776 to hammer out a formal declaration of independence – of freedom.  A war was fought, a Constitution crafted and a nation created that had freedom as one of its cornerstones.

So we Americans, not only want freedom, but we even demand it.  For, after all, isn’t it one of our rights?  The Declaration of Independence boldly declares that “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.”

So liberty (freedom) is a hallmark of mankind and of our country.

So what to do think of when we think of freedom?

For the individual, most think of freedom as the right to: live where I want, drive what I want, eat where I want, spend where I want, to say what I want, to be what I want, to vacation where I want, to shop where I want, to vote how I want, to dress how I want, etc.  For most it means that what “I want”, I should be able to pursue and do.

[note:  Often freedom is thought to be unlimited, but such is never true.  Freedom has responsibilities and duties along with deference to others.  Freedom is never without limits or constrains. Adam and Eve before sin were restrained by the garden’s bounds and God’s prohibitions.  So their freedom was limited as is ours today.]

As an American, freedom is best captured in the nation’s Bill of Rights:

• freedom of religion and the free exercise of it
• freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition
• freedom to keep and bear arms
• freedom from unmerited searches and seizures
• freedom from unjust imprisonment and lack of due process
• freedom found in a speedy and public trial
• freedom from excessive fines or cruel punishments
• freedom from an overreaching federal government

While both of these ideas of freedom are valid, there is another and greater freedom.  It is the freedom that is only found in submission and compliance to Jesus.  It is the freedom from the tyranny and bondage of the flesh, the world and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).

Because of sin, all men are born slaves, hostages, prisoners and captives much like a Jew who was born in Egypt before the coming of Moses.  They only knew bondage until God’s savior, Moses, came and led them out of their slavery.

So only in Jesus can man find the freedom from anxiety, fear, anger, addictions, shame, guilt, and hopelessness. Only in Jesus is found a freedom much more valuable than the physical freedom or national freedom that we commonly think of when we think of freedom.  To have victory over guilt and fear through Jesus is so wonderful and so powerful!

Thank you, Jesus, for the freedom You alone give to those who love You.