I love summer time, especially being a school teacher. Other than getting a break from the classroom and serving with the Saints Prison Ministry, I get to celebrate one of the best events of the year, the Fourth of July. To most of us, it is a wonderful time of watching parades, hanging out with family and friends over a barbeque, and enjoying the spectacle of fireworks in the evening. It’s a great way to celebrate the day our nation received independence.
As my wife and I enjoy visiting various state parks, we decided to check out Monmouth Battlefield State Park that day. It is the site of the longest one day battle in the American Revolutionary War. We got to see some really cool original artifacts in their museum, a live cannon firing, and walked on some of the actual trails the soldiers traveled and fought on 245 years ago. It really puts things in the proper perspective. We cannot even begin to imagine what those soldiers experienced and how much those brave men and women offered up so that we could be here today. The difficult truth is that freedom requires sacrifice. Unfortunately, a price has to be paid.
While we continue to honor those who have paid the price for our physical freedom, we must recognize and worship the one who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual freedom, Jesus Christ. Sin costs a heavy price. One that none of us could ever possibly pay. Thank God He chose to pay the bill by offering up His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, take on the sins of the entire planet, and rise from the grave three days later!
Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Romans 10:9-10
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
As we live and navigate through this world and current cultural climate, as our individual freedoms and liberties continue to be challenged, let us not grow weary and lose sight of the big picture. TRUE FREEDOM IS IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE! He sets us free from the bondage of this world if we confess our sins and make Him Lord and Savior of our lives. There isn’t anybody here on earth, no matter how powerful they are, that can take that away. So be encouraged by His grace, pursue Him daily, and walk in true freedom today!
Wayne Errig