As you read this, you probably just celebrated the 4th of July within the past few days. Maybe you enjoyed a cookout with burgers and hot dogs on the grill! Maybe you went to the ballpark and enjoyed our national pastime! For sure, most of you enjoyed some fireworks! Personally, I’m going to enjoy all of the above and I can’t wait! Of course, it is the day we celebrate our nation and the principles that it is built upon. Freedom is without question the most important and foundational principle of the USA. This is illustrated by the truth that over 1 million US soldiers have died in our nation’s history because they believed in and were willing to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. The 4th is truly worth celebrating and I hope that you all enjoyed the day!
While we celebrate that freedom on this day (and rightfully so), can you imagine how this day has been celebrated over the years by those when our freedom was in question? Juneteenth (June 19th) was recently celebrated as the day that marks the end of slavery in our nation. Can you imagine how African Americans celebrated that day in the late 1800’s having personally experienced the evils of slavery? My point is that we cheerfully and rightfully celebrate these holidays for what they represent and for the freedoms we currently enjoy as a result of what happened on those historical days. But those that fought for those freedoms and those that experienced the evils of slavery, likely celebrated with far more vigor and enthusiasm than we do today, because they knew from personal experience or feared what the other side of it looked like. Because of so many that have given their lives and for the many that still serve today protecting those precious freedoms, we do not live in fear or live in danger of what life would be like without freedom.
The Bible also speaks about freedom, but not from oppressive governments or unjust laws. The freedom that God offers us is from a bondage into which we are born. In this case, the threat to freedom is sin. Sin is when we disobey and walk contrary to the paths that God reveals to us through His Word. It is rebellion, but it is also our natural disposition toward the things of God. We’re not taught to lie, steal, cheat, and be selfish. This is how we are born. Sin has a stronghold on our hearts and therefore keeps us from experiencing freedom. Sin is an evil taskmaster that we cannot break free from in our own strength. The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus lived the holy life that we cannot and died in our place so that we can be forgiven of our sinful rebellion towards God. But He also died so that we could have life today and break free from the bondage that sin holds on our lives. Paul writes these words in his letter to the Galatian churches in Galatians 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Christ died so that we could experience freedom today! If you have not yet believed and trusted Jesus so that you can be forgiven and set free from your sin, I pray that you will earnestly seek this freedom He offers you. If you have experienced this freedom, listen to the words of Paul! Do not submit yourself again to the ways of the past, but instead walk in the ways that He has revealed to you and live in the freedom that He purchased for you on the cross! When we truly experience freedom from sin, then we are able to truly celebrate and worship the One who has given us this freedom. We joyfully celebrate because we know what it’s like to live without this freedom!
Comment
Comments