Thankful for Freedom
What a wonderful thing freedom is! It has been the only way of living I have ever known, unlike many people in our world. We enjoy freedoms that other people only dream of.
But we are not as free as we think. Masses of Americans are in bondage and don’t even know it. That was my condition not too long ago.
But you may think “we are Americans and have never been enslaved to anyone.” Another group of people thought the very same way.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8.31-34)
Being a slave isn’t only a matter of physical barriers, chains or walls. It is a matter of the spiritual condition of your heart and mind. If you are committing sin, that which is contrary to your Creator and His laws, you are a slave.
I was a slave to my sin for many years. I lived according to what made me feel good, what made me happy, what I wanted to do. I thought it was freedom, but my life was missing something. There was an emptiness I could not explain. I was not able to fill that emptiness. The emptiness seemed to grow stronger, needing new experiences to try and fill it or cover it up, but I never was filled, truly satisfied, truly content. I was like an animal that was born in a zoo. It only knows its cage. It has no concept of life other than that which it experiences in its cage. I was a slave to my sin and didn’t even know it. But freedom came and I am thankful for it.
Anger has many people chained. If you are angry in your heart towards someone, even though your anger may not be expressed to that person physically, you may be a slave to your anger.
How many people are chained by their lust. A man who keeps on looking at women with lustful intent is a slave to his lust. It has its chains around his mind and heart. He is a slave. He needs to be set free.
Greed and covetousness has many in bondage. Always wanting more, newer, better, shinier, faster, yet seldom being content. The multi-billion dollar advertising business in our nation fuels such bondage.
Freedom from the bondage of your lust, anger, pride, bitterness, covetousness, greed, fornication, hatred, freedom from your sin, was purchased two thousand years ago by the Lord Jesus Christ. He died in your place on the cross, taking your sin upon Himself. He was God in the flesh Who came to rescue you from your sin and death, and from the wrath of your Creator because of your rebellion against Him. Jesus Christ died for your sins. He bore the wrath and fury of your Creator because of your sins against Him. He was buried and rose from the dead on a Sunday morning physically, literally, supernaturally. He is the only true God, the only true Savior. He is the Master of the universe, the Creator of all things. Turn away from your sin today and trust Him to rescue you from your sin, and your chains. Jesus gave His life, perfect in every way, for you. He has demonstrated His love for you. Eternal freedom, everlasting liberty comes through Him. Trust in Him, His death on the cross, to deliver you from your sin and your death. He has the authority and the power to deliver you. He took your place. He died for you. He offers you His free forgiveness, His eternal life, His wonderful freedom.
“For God so loved the world, the He gave His only Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whoever believes (trusts in, relies upon, commits to, places confidence) in Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved (rescued, delivered, set free) through Him (Jesus). Whoever believes (trusts in, relies upon, commits to, places confidence) in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (Jesus Christ).” John 3.16-18 “Whoever believes in the Son (Jesus Christ) has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son (Jesus) shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3.36
Real freedom, true life, is the gift of your Creator God, provided through the perfect life, the substitutionary death and the supernatural resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is your freedom, your Rescuer, your Deliverer, your Savior. Run to Him today. Trust Him today. Submit yourself to Him today. Rely upon Him and His death in your place and His resurrection from the grave as your only way of deliverance from your sin, bondage and death.
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“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and
do not be subject to a yoke (chain) of slavery. Galatians 5.1