What is freedom, really?

This Friday we Celebrate the Forth of July here in the US. On that day over 200 years ago. we won our Independence from the tyranny of the King of England.  The United States is often called the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!  For many of us who live here, we have never known anything but freedom. (Although I believe that is changing. But I digress) But what is freedom? In the US, it has meant freedom from political tyranny and freedom to express your opinions without fear of punishment, freedom of expression, speech, freedom to pursue your own happiness, meet in groups, freedom of religion, etc. . ..

Yet, I believe there are certain myths about freedom that if we examined them, we'd discover they aren't true.

Myth 1:  Freedom means we don't answer to anyone. We don't serve anyone. No one rules over us!

The truth of the matter is, each one of us serves something or someone. If you aren't serving God, you're serving Satan. There's two sides in this world, light and dark, and you're on one of them. You may not think you serve Satan, but that's all part of the deception. You're either in the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Satan. When you die, you'll find out which one you belong to real quick.

So, you may say, if I serve God, I'm still not free. Not true. God offers a different kind of freedom, a better kind of freedom: Freedom from fear, the law, sin, depression, addiction, sickness, divorce, rejection, etc...   and He replaces it with the freedom to love, to care, to be kind, patient, good, humble, freedom to dance and sing and be filled with joy!  He gives us the freedom to live to our full potential in Him.

Freedom is not about not serving someone. It's about serving the right Someone! 

Myth 2:  Freedom means getting to do what you want to do when you want to do

The problem with this is that because we are fallen, sinful creatures, normally what we want to do is something that will ultimately destroy us.  We are like children who want to eat only cake for dinner, too stupid to realize that it will eventually make us fat and sick.  The Bible says the heart of man is wicked. Jesus, himself, didn't trust mankind because he knew what was in their hearts. We have a disease. It's called sin. And if left unchecked, it will kill us physically and ultimately it will kill us eternally.

True Freedom is allowing our Creator to direct our lives, to change our hearts, so that we can do what He created us to do. Only then will we find fulfillment and happiness!

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

On this forth of July, if you are a child of God, celebrate the Freedom HE gives you!!


Happy forth! 

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