Free?

I recently saw a post from a church announcing that they were expanding to create another campus as they had received a FREE building.  That got me thinking.  Free?  Really?  Was that building really free – truly free?  The truth is, NOTHING is free!

[Yes, there is a “free” for some (Jesus said, “The truth shall make your free.” John 8:32), but still someone somewhere is paying.]

That building, which was the home of a church before it became free to a new church, was paid for by a group of people. I wonder what happened that it became available for the new church?  What happened to those who had given and worked to bring that building into existence, paid off the loans, and paid the maintenance expenses?  That building cost a group of people a great deal over the years.  I hope the upstart realizes the sacrifice by others and are thankful for it was not truly free in the big picture!

I’m reminded how so many today are demanding things to be “free”.  The progressives (but not limited to this group) want free health care, free tuition, free preschools and day care, free vaccinations, free housing, and/or… But, really, is any of it truly free?  Somebody is paying and/or somebody is going to pay!

Much of what we think is free from our government is paid for by incurring more debt which is piling up at a terrifying rate. Much of that debt is being bought by China which then uses the interest we pay to buy us and control us.  We are selling our children’s future for things “free” today.  Ugh!

[Also, service of the national debt – the Interest payment – is a huge and growing amount of the budget that limits monies for services today.  Do we ever wonder why streets are worse these days?  Our “free” things are part of the reason why.]

The “free” we enjoy is like a boa constrictor wrapping itself around us and slowly squeezing the life out.  Don’t think those goods and services are really “free”.  I have fought the “free” drug for most of my life for it is simply a lie.

Notice to people:  “Don’t drink the Koolaide!”

Notice to fish:  “In the yummy worm is a hook!”

Just one more point.  Not even our salvation is “free”.  Oh, we didn’t work, sweat, sacrifice, and labor for it so it was evidently “free” – right?  Or, was it?  Maybe we need to remember the work of God and the life and death of Jesus.  Don’t for a minute think that our salvation was “free”.  Jesus paid a horrible price to give us a gift.  To be anything but humbled, repentant, grieved, and thankful is to not grasp the reality of the labors of Jesus.  If saved, we received a gift (only “free” to you), paid for by Another!  Oh, how it behooves us to love and serve Jesus for His “free” gift.