ON FREEDOM AND MIXED EMOTIONS

Out of all the holidays we observe in this country the Fourth of July is actually one of the most meaningful ones to me. It is the day we celebrate our independence as a country. We honor this day because we did not always have our independence and we know that our freedom is very important and even more so we recognize that our freedom comes with a great price. Men and women sacrifice their lives every day so that we can have the freedoms we all enjoy. It makes me proud and excited when we take time to celebrate the freedom of our country. It is always a great thing to celebrate and is definitely better than the alternative of being bound or captive. Wouldn’t you agree?

I must admit though, for me this holiday isn’t completely a joyful one. You see when I think about freedom, I don’t just look at the freedom of our country because I realize that there is an even greater freedom that overshadows it. This freedom can only come from knowing Jesus Christ. My sadness comes from the fact that there are many who have not even tapped into this freedom. Some knowingly have chosen not to accept this type of freedom while others are deceived thinking they are free when really they are far from it. In the Bible, John 8:36 says “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” This is true freedom.

I definitely don’t want to throw a damper on the celebration of our country’s independence. It is definitely something to celebrate, but I want us to realize that as believers we must also focus on freedom in Christ. We must always be mindful of the great commission, sharing what we know to be the ultimate freedom with those who have yet to accept it. The harvest is definitely plentiful and God has called each of us to share with others about what it means to be truly FREE. So enjoy the barbecue, the friends and family, the fireworks and all of the other accompaniments of this Independence Day, but don’t neglect the opportunities you may have to help someone get truly free today and everyday. Be encouraged!