Free at Last

I heard a statement this week that really got me thinking about freedom, true freedom. Coincidentally, we are coming up on July 4th weekend so it seemed like an appropriate thing to blog about. Here was the statement, and is was in reference to trust and marriage:

"I don't even feel FREE in my own house!"

Wow, to hear a statement like that is a sure sign of some deep seeded frustration and pain. As I thought about this I realized that freedom, like so many other good things from God, has been perverted by the world. When Christ followers claim that they don't have any freedom they have strayed from the truth. In this context, the word freedom has been used to justify rebellion from our commitments to God, spouse, children, etc.

What is the TRUTH, what is the nature of TRUE FREEDOM? Paul tells us in Romans 8.

"1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because, through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

Is freedom really the ability to selfishly run off and do whatever we want, whatever pleases us? Is it the right to peruse happiness for the sake of building a life of comfort and ease? Not hardly! Freedom is the privilege of resting in the sovereignty of the creator of the universe, knowing that whatever comes He has rescued you from death and will never forsake you.

As usual, with God, our thinking must be turned upside down. For example, in our marriage Ashley and I have great freedom. We both feel secure, loved and cherished. Why? Well partly because we have chosen to live with restrictions, to limit our "FREEDOMS". We make sure to tell each other where we are going, we don't spend a lot of money without discussing it with each other and we have committed our hearts to one another exclusively. These are only a few ways that we choose to limit ourselves for the sake of our relationship. Choosing to live by rules has opened up our marriage to a whole new level of intimacy and closeness. That is the type Peace and Freedom that my heart craves.

Likewise with God, should we choose to rebel and run from Him in the name of freedom we are doomed to a life of struggle that is hopeless at best. If we choose to submit to Him and abide in Him we are granted ultimate freedom, even freedom from the consequences of our sin.

"21 ... that the creation itself will be liberated from it's bondage and decay and brought into the GLORIOUS FREEDOM of the children of God."

My prayer today is that I will fight against my selfish desires and that God, though His Spirit, will grant me strength and victory over sin. That I would more fully see His love and glory in the way He choose to limit Himself by putting on flesh and winning TRUE FREEDOM on our behalf.