Freedom Isn't Free!

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Freedom Isn’t Free!

Freedom isn’t free! It is costly, demanding, and sacrificial. There are times in which our nations freedom is tested in ways that cause war. Over the last 100 years, our nation has fought in many wars.  Thousands have died in order to preserve freedom and to keep other nations from being brutally abused or murdered by dictatorial regimes.  Our freedom fighters must never go unnoticed or forgotten.  Their death must not be in vain.  And, their sacrifice must be held with the highest respect.  In the last seven wars, 643,412 of our fellow Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.     

Afghanistan, 2,227 died (and counting) ? War in Iraq, 4,454 died (and counting) ? Gulf War, 293 died ? Vietnam Conflict, 58,168 died ? Korean War, 54,246 died ? WW2, 407,316 died ? WW1, 116,708 died.

Memorial Day isn’t about having a bar-b-que, going on a vacation, or finding great retail sales, but rather, to remember the men and women who fought in the battlefields to protect us from the enemy.  It is also a time to say thank you to God for creating men and women who has the willingness and drive to keep our nation safe.  

Freedom is not free!  It’s costly and sacrificial!  To live in a nation where we have freedom is precious, however, there is still one freedom that is far greater than living in a free nation!  This freedom came with a price.  It separated a father and son.  And, it cost a man his life.  Not just any ordinary man, either.  The man?  They called him Jesus.  Jesus?  Yes!  His name alone means freedom (He saves). 

All of humanity was in the prison of sin.  Hopeless.  Chained.  And, locked in the grips of Satan.  Galatians 3:22 says, "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin...." Isaiah 59:2 says that our sins have separated us with God.  And, God said in Romans 1:18 that He hates sin.  Our sins have barred us from experiencing the joy of spiritual freedom and have locked us up with no way out! 

Are we in spiritual prison forever?  NO!  Is there a way out?  YES!  Do we have a freedom fighter who can provide the power to set us FREE!  YES!  Who is it?  His name is JESUS!

Jesus came to rescue us from the grips of Satan.  Romans 5:6-8, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Jesus’ sacrifice declared our independence from Satan Romans 5:9, "Since we have now been justified (Declared Free) by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"

And, Jesus made it possible for us be set free from sin, John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus is our freedom fighter. His death and resurrection made it possible for us to live a life of spiritual freedom.  Our church gatherings and our daily living must be a testimony of joyful freedom and thanksgiving to our freedom fighter, Jesus Christ!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

A Priceless Offer

From nursery school onward we are taught how to succeed and make it in society. The early bird gets the worm. No pain, no gain. There is no such thing as a free lunch.  Demand your rights. Get what you pay for. I want people to get what they deserve – nothing more, nothing less. It’s ALL about ME!

The world places value on material stuff. Not so for the pursuer of righteousness. The Christian places value on spiritual matters. They hunger and thirst for right living.  They see kingdom seeking as an opportunity to be a witness for Christ. They engage themselves in the spirit of God and allow the Spirit to engage, equip, and empower them. They make it about Him and not about themselves!

While the world says make it about ME…God says I am going to make it about YOU and ME. Romans 5:8 says that God demonstrated His love for us…while WE were still sinners, His Son died for US! God says, I love you deeply and forever. I want a relationship with YOU! WE really deserve death, but He gave us life! WE really deserved punishment, but he gave us forgiveness! We really deserved wrath, but He gave us grace! We really deserved prison, but He gave us a pardon!

God offers hope. Life. Joy. Peace. Rest. Compassion. Understanding. Patience. Caring. And, buckets full of love! The world offers a limited timeshare to happiness and material wealth. It gets redistributed and it never leaves the compound of earth. We purchase deadbolts for our houses and alarms for our cars just to protect the very things that will not last. As I have said many times: “I have never seen a hearse pull a U-Haul yet.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 “Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is; is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” (The Message)

As expensive as the material stuff that we have accumulated over years is, are spiritual life is priceless and eternal. God’s offer is not for sale, it is given freely to all who accepts. God’s offer is not a sales pitch, nor is it cheap. God is always honest and transparent. Isn’t the spiritual life worth accumulating?

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian McCutchen