02 Jul A More Perfect Freedom
Freedom is a gift.
I love the 4th of July. Trips to the lake, fireworks, boating with Julie, our kids, and grandkids, and taking a step back to thank God for our freedom in this incredible nation. Freedom is a gift I so often take for granted. In the United States, freedom is like breathing—part of daily life. Yet I admit that outside this holiday, I rarely give it a second thought.
But the truth of the matter is that none of us are born free; everyone is born into bondage, burdened and enslaved by sinful hearts. In Romans 8:20-21, the Apostle Paul says,
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
It’s only through the insurmountable sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we can be free!
Anything but free.
This time of year at Wheeler Mission is long and hard. Our guests are weary. Many are severely dehydrated, burned by the blazing sun, and desperate for a reprieve from life on the streets. They’re burdened by things like pain, trauma, abandonment, addiction…They feel anything but free.
But slowly, as the Gospel of Grace is realized, many begin to see themselves through the eyes of Christ. They understand that while they may not be able to change their circumstances or undo the pain of the past, they can be free.
Perfect freedom in Christ.
I love this passage:
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at the time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:20-23)
What a powerful reminder of perfect freedom in Christ. This is for you, for me, and for Wheeler’s guests.
Yes dear friends, today we celebrate and give thanks for the gift and unbelievable blessing of a free nation. But my prayer is that our freedom here points us to an even greater, more perfect freedom that will never be taken away—freedom and salvation through Jesus Christ.
God bless you,
Rick