LONGING FOR FREEDOM?

LONGING FOR FREEDOM?

Thursday, December 01, 2016

  Some things we never forget, like the emotions involved in confinement; tearfully sitting staring at or standing clinging to the bars desperately longing to be free. And so it was for me, but then I learned how to climb out of my crib.

  The problem with my above first escape and all thereafter is discovering they never truly provided freedom complete, only partial and at that too often fleeting. Studying Scripture and observing life in light of it became obvious to me that human heart has continually cried out for and sought freedom ever since being barred from the “garden eastward in Eden”. (Gen.2:8; 3:24) Consider the many political and/or denominational religious promising freedom movements past and current. Consider the popular appeal of tales such as BRAVEHEART speaking to mans’ craving to be free. Consider the incongruity of believing leaders promising, even actually seeking, freedom when they themselves are commonly captive to the life-views that the Apostle Paul wrote of recorded in 1Corinthians2:14; 3:18-20. Indeed consider this USA, “Land of the Free”, revolting to be free from domination, and yet to this moment in the light of truth citizens and immigrants legal or illegal persons are free only by comparison to other nations.

  There is however true freedom. It is gained individually through trust in the only authentic provider of freedom, Lord Jesus Christ. Let us hear the Word and accept His marvelous gift of freedom in the midst of burden.

·         John 8:31-36  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

·         John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

·         Romans 8:14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

  A final thought for consideration this morning: What would our USA be like if all of its inhabitants were Biblically free?

EBB4

PS. One of my favorite songs on the topic is written by, played, and sung my dear son-n-law, Tom Sullivan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KReR5jL0MNY