July 11th, 2022
Written by Amanda Allums
When you hear the word “freedom” what do you think of? Our military who fight so bravely for our country? Jesus who died on the cross for our sins? Being able to make our own decisions? Running in a field with no cares in the world? Braveheart? I had to throw that one in there!
Everyone has their own opinion of what freedom looks like. The Oxford Languages definition of freedom says this:
free·dom
But I am referring to spiritual freedom here in this text. Freedom is being able to choose right or wrong and live with the consequences of your actions. What do I mean by that? Jesus died on the cross for all people and all sin. Once we know that, we have a choice to either believe that, accept Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, and read the Bible and live according to God’s Holy Word; but, we also have a choice to reject that Jesus died on the cross and not believe in Him or live a holy life. Freedom is having the chance to live for God or not live for God; being able to choose a life of eternity with Jesus in heaven or a life of eternity in hell.
You see, freedom is not just a physical thing that you can see. It’s a mindset because, even Paul and Silas, who were in prison, were truly free men because God’s love and peace has no boundaries. It can reach through any obstacle and even the hardest heart. In fact, the jailer got saved while they were in prison! Fortunately for Paul and Silas, God sent an earthquake which opened the prison doors to free them! Of course, there is more to that story, but the point is that when you have God, you are freed from so many things that hold people in bondage, even if they aren’t in physical shackles.
People who are physically held captive and chained can still be free because, if they are a believer in Jesus and don’t let their faith waiver even in terrible trials and tribulations, they will be freed one way or another; because even death isn’t the end with Jesus! We have read about Christian martyrs in the Bible and throughout human history who have died for their belief in Jesus because they would rather be bound in physical chains for a short time on earth in order to gain true freedom for eternity. You see, most people are choosing the opposite and what they think is freedom here on earth in exchange for an eternity in chains and don’t even realize it! They are being deceived by satan!
That is why we have to spread the good news of Jesus and preach the whole gospel and be salt and light in this dark world. We may be the only Jesus they see or hear! People don’t know true freedom until they experience it for themselves and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit for the first time (2 Cor. 3:17). It’s like a breath of fresh air! If we all gave even one person a taste of the Lord, then they would want more because it would remove the scales from their eyes and they would see how they have been bound up and didn’t even know it. It’s our job as Christians to be a beacon of light in this lost and confused world. John 8:32 says, “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
How do you know you are lost if you don’t even know where you are supposed to be going? Let’s point people in the right direction so they can experience true freedom and have it for all eternity! No more trying to fill holes that only God can fill. No more looking over your shoulder. No more worry or anxiety from simple things in life that you can’t control. What would a world of total freedom look like? It will look like heaven and we want to bring as many people with us as we can!
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
When you hear the word “freedom” what do you think of? Our military who fight so bravely for our country? Jesus who died on the cross for our sins? Being able to make our own decisions? Running in a field with no cares in the world? Braveheart? I had to throw that one in there!
Everyone has their own opinion of what freedom looks like. The Oxford Languages definition of freedom says this:
free·dom
- the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
- absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.
- the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
But I am referring to spiritual freedom here in this text. Freedom is being able to choose right or wrong and live with the consequences of your actions. What do I mean by that? Jesus died on the cross for all people and all sin. Once we know that, we have a choice to either believe that, accept Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior, and read the Bible and live according to God’s Holy Word; but, we also have a choice to reject that Jesus died on the cross and not believe in Him or live a holy life. Freedom is having the chance to live for God or not live for God; being able to choose a life of eternity with Jesus in heaven or a life of eternity in hell.
You see, freedom is not just a physical thing that you can see. It’s a mindset because, even Paul and Silas, who were in prison, were truly free men because God’s love and peace has no boundaries. It can reach through any obstacle and even the hardest heart. In fact, the jailer got saved while they were in prison! Fortunately for Paul and Silas, God sent an earthquake which opened the prison doors to free them! Of course, there is more to that story, but the point is that when you have God, you are freed from so many things that hold people in bondage, even if they aren’t in physical shackles.
People who are physically held captive and chained can still be free because, if they are a believer in Jesus and don’t let their faith waiver even in terrible trials and tribulations, they will be freed one way or another; because even death isn’t the end with Jesus! We have read about Christian martyrs in the Bible and throughout human history who have died for their belief in Jesus because they would rather be bound in physical chains for a short time on earth in order to gain true freedom for eternity. You see, most people are choosing the opposite and what they think is freedom here on earth in exchange for an eternity in chains and don’t even realize it! They are being deceived by satan!
That is why we have to spread the good news of Jesus and preach the whole gospel and be salt and light in this dark world. We may be the only Jesus they see or hear! People don’t know true freedom until they experience it for themselves and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit for the first time (2 Cor. 3:17). It’s like a breath of fresh air! If we all gave even one person a taste of the Lord, then they would want more because it would remove the scales from their eyes and they would see how they have been bound up and didn’t even know it. It’s our job as Christians to be a beacon of light in this lost and confused world. John 8:32 says, “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
How do you know you are lost if you don’t even know where you are supposed to be going? Let’s point people in the right direction so they can experience true freedom and have it for all eternity! No more trying to fill holes that only God can fill. No more looking over your shoulder. No more worry or anxiety from simple things in life that you can’t control. What would a world of total freedom look like? It will look like heaven and we want to bring as many people with us as we can!
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
1 Comment
Thank you... very insightful message! 🕇🇺🇸