“Celebrating Our Freedom”

It is kind of odd to think of celebrating Independence Day in April. In fact, it seems out of order. We relate independence with the 4th of July and the declared independence of the United States. Though this is not incorrect, it is not the only time in history that we were the recipients of freedom. The problem is that most people don’t know this. The truth is that there are millions of people in our culture who live in bondage today. Just because a person lives in a nation or culture that has provided freedom to its people, it does not mean that those people have true freedom.

Many people are captured by their anxieties and worries. They lie down and rise under the affliction of apprehension and dread. Some live with guilt and remorse. They carry a load of regret and fault due to unresolved issues from the past. Others are weighted down by low self-esteem and minimum self-worth. They feel as if they don’t add up and have very little control over matters in their lives. There are so many other issues that contribute to the bondage of one’s soul as so many people deal with some sort of emotional and spiritual distress.

Such issues of captivity play a huge part in the views of our perception of freedom. We live in a free country, but we cannot experience true freedom. We are told about the liberty we have but fall short of knowing true liberation. You see, true freedom is much more than having social freedoms: It’s about having spiritual freedom in our souls. God’s word declares that everyone experiences some sort of captivity when they walked in the worldly ways. Galatians 4:3 says,

3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.

This world piles loads of guilt, pain, regret, and sin on the shoulders of all of us; but, there is great news. As we celebrate the Lenten season, we are reminded that Jesus Christ came to set the captive free. At Easter, we celebrate freedom over sin, the grave, and hell. We are no longer destined to die without any hope, but we can have victory over the curse of sin and the afflictions of the world. Look again at Galatians 4 as it continues in verse 4, saying;

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

God sent his Son, Jesus, to free us, all. His death and resurrection provided the power to break the chains of any bondage that humanity faces. We are freed from Satan’s grip! We are freed from worldly addictions! We are freed from the guilt and shame of the past! We are freed to be what the Lord calls us to be: A child of God and heir to His kingdom.

So this Easter season, remember that our day of independence isn’t on July 4th; but, it is the day that we let Christ come into our hearts so that we know that we are truly and fully liberated. Only through the resurrecting power of Jesus can we experience real and everlasting freedom.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)