Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Freedom

“...proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”  Leviticus 25:10  (as inscribed on the Liberty Bell)

Today Americans celebrate independence.  Freedom.  

In the late 1700s, colonists sought release from British control.  After bravely battling against incredibly skewed odds... they won that liberty... taking charge and creating a government that allowed choice and protection.

A young nation... experiencing freedom.

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ sought to release the people He created and loves from the eternal punishment for sin.  After bravely enduring incomprehensible suffering due to incredibly skewed charges... He won the ultimate victory... stepping boldly from a grave and completing a new covenant with His creation.

A sinful world... experiencing real freedom.

Liberty came long before 1776.  It didn’t involve redcoats or revolutionaries... brigades or battlefields.  It didn’t come from a pen dipped in ink or proclamations made against a King named George.  It was established centuries before the shot heard round the world rang out... or George Washington issued his first command.  

It started with a baby... and ended with a betrayal.

It started with water to wine and ended with wine and bread.

It started with three wise men and ended with three crosses on a hillside.

Freedom began when the veil tore.  When the ground shook.  When the King of Kings hung His beautiful head and declared “It is finished.”  When death lost its perfect record for keeping people under.  When the stone rolled back...  When the tomb stood empty... When the Savior rose again with your name on His mind and heart.  

Eternal freedom happened because you matter to God.

Jesus came to earth with a revolutionary way of thinking, a sinless battle plan against the power of death, and marching orders that make it possible for you to spend eternity with Him in victory.  

Statesman Patrick Henry declared in 1775, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Jesus’ life declared... I’ll suffer death so you can have liberty.


No matter how trapped, held down, beat up, or oppressed you feel... never forget Jesus’ declaration of your independence...

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”  John 8:36

If you are a Christ-follower, you ARE set free.  Believe it and live it out!  Let’s take today to celebrate our country... our Creator... and His courageous sacrifice on our behalf.