a few thoughts about freedom...

As American's we take freedom for granted. On the 4th of July, we take the day, well, the whole weekend to recognize the day we became a free nation, but are we really celebrating freedom? The truth is we use this day as an opportunity to once more serve ourselves. Is today really about freedom? It seems to be more about parties, and fire works, friends and family. It seems to be more about the fulfillment selfish desires than freedom. After all, if it were really about freedom, is this how we would spend it? 

The very foundations of freedom have nothing to do with fun, fireworks or over indulgence. The basics of freedom are in fact something different entirely. The foundations are freedom are sacrifice, pain and suffering. It is about selflessness, rather than selfishness. I guess it is some sort of celebration of freedom to even be free to take advantage of freedom, but does that create a climate where freedom can grow and expand, or does our approach create a scenario where we end up more enslaved.

Most of the time on the 4th of july we think of freedom in the context of our physical world. Freedom to govern ourselves, that is what our for fathers died for so many years ago, but there is another kind of freedom offered to us, not by the efforts and sacrifice of the military men who have fallen, but by the sacrifice of one man, Jesus Christ, the son of God. His sacrifice gave us freedom from the bonds of sin and death. With one act, Jesus Christ changed the course of human history. He set us free.

It is not so that we can continue to live in the destructive and hurtful behaviors that have lead us to a life of enslavement to ourselves that Jesus gave His life, it is for freedom. Paul tells us,

"It is for freedom, that He has set us free."

Not a real novel concept right? Strangely enough, as human beings we gravitate toward enslavement, and bondage. We love the things that destroy us, and cling to what enslaves us. Why? We are sinful creatures. More than anything today needs to be a about a celebration of the freedom we are all offered in Jesus Christ. We can choose to walk and live in the freedom He gave us, or we can continue to pursue ourselves, and find ourselves digging a deeper and deeper whole of slavery for our lives.

When we truly understand this freedom, it doesn't lead to a life of wielding that freedom to those less fortunate, or taking advantage of the freedom we have. It doesn't lead to a selfish pursuit of whatever makes me happy. It leads ultimately to a life willing to sacrifice for the sake of others knowing the same kind of freedom. How have we as American's gotten to the point where we so enjoy or freedom that we view others as less than us, or less important simply because they don't have it? No, if we truly understood freedom, we would stop at nothing to see as many people as possible living in that freedom as well. 

This is my hearts cry, this is what I live for. I want to daily lay down my life so that even one more person can understand the freedom offered in Jesus. I want my freedom to create in me a sense of burden for those who don't know freedom, a life of mourning for the oppressed. This is the life worth living. 

So this 4th of July, we each have a choice. Freedom is freedom, and no one can tell you how to celebrate it, that's why it's freedom. You can use it, take advantage of it, and ultimately spit in it's face, that is your right, or you can see it as an amazing gift worth giving your life to see others experience it for themselves.

Either way, for us to truly understand freedom and the cost that pays it's price, we need to look no further than the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the cross that is beckoning at all man kind, come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest. The kind of rest that produces freedom known only by those who have put their hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

Happy 4th of July everyone!

P.S. Thank you to the men and women who stand as a human example of freedom's payment. your own lives