I left off mentioning two things that hinder me, and maybe us, from embracing freedom... (Two songs that have been big for me as I seek to embrace this freedom are "Set Me Free" by Casting Crowns and "Freedom Reigns" by Jason Upton, in case you want a soundtrack to this post...)
#1: We like to stick to what we know, or at least always have that convenient option of returning to what we know. Here's an example- I love to travel, whether it be trips or relocating my life. I'm fascinated by differences- culture, beliefs, lifestyle, appearance, customs/rituals, languages, interests, music, and everything else. And I love realizing different ways that I want to live, things I wouldn't ever just think of on my own. But that's a separate post... So I've always considered myself "adventurous" for lack of a better word- I'm willing to try just about anything, go anywhere, etc. But if I'm honest with myself, I know that part of that willingness comes from the knowledge that I'm not necessarily making a lifetime commitment. When I move somewhere, I do so with this thought in the back of my head that I can always move somewhere else if it doesn't work. When I eat some crazy food, I do so knowing that I can indulge my blue box blues if the new food is gross. You get the point.
We are completely unable to comprehend the freedom Christ offers. We have lived lives enslaved to sin from our first breath. And even though we may not like our slavery to sin, it's what we know, and there's a level of comfort to that. And then Christ is revealed to us, and He says to follow Him- immediately, leaving everything we know, laying down our life with little knowledge of the life He is offering. At first, it sounds exciting. And then the realization hits that this (and we don't even know what "this" really is) is permanent and all-encompassing and a completely foreign way of life, and we freak out. Israel asked to go back to Egypt and be slaves again; I ask to stay in bondage to sin, disguising the question by saying I just want comfort or something like that.
We say we want freedom, Christ gives it to us, and then we don't take it. At some point in college, somebody put it this way: Christ breaks the shackles and destroys the prison walls, and we just stand in the same spot. We have to take the initiative to step into the freedom that He paid the incredibly costly price to offer us.
Freedom, true freedom, is terrifying. It's nothing like we have ever experienced. It's impossible to predict what a life of freedom will look like. It means leaving everything we have ever known, everything we have ever loved- losing our lives. There are no exceptions- we have to give up EVERYTHING. But we are offered the promise of Matthew 19:29- "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life." We can bank on the words of the Good Shepherd in John 10, in which Jesus puts the two (in my opinion, the only two) options out there in 10:10- "The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." While we know very little about what freedom will be like (and what we do know might not be appealing to our sinful desires), we must trust Jesus that slavery is eternal death and freedom is eternal abundant life, and that is a trade worth making.
I desperately want to embrace freedom more and find a life I never could have dreamed of.
#2: We don't know what freedom truly is. I read Galatians 5:1 a few weeks ago, and realized that I have an absolutely inadequate definition/understanding of the word "freedom." It says, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." I kept re-reading the verse and checking different translations... "For freedom..." But it really says that the purpose was encompassed in one word- FREEDOM. So I found my way to Romans 6 for some clarification since Paul speaks "in human terms, because of [my] natural limitations." I got a bit more confused and also gained a little more understanding, all at the same time.
From my "natural limitations" I kinda got stuck with this- somehow freedom and slavery seem to be opposite, AND our freedom can be summarized as slavery to righteousness... If I ever make any progress comprehending that, I'll let you know. But for now, this is what I've got... (Ready for this? It's all gonna come full circle, connecting to "part one." I'm actually surprised at this!)
When man was created in Genesis 2, they were free- so much so that they didn't even know there was any other way. Then the serpent enters and "enlightens" them, telling them that they aren't actually free because there is this forbidden fruit and it offers something that they don't have. They eat it and everything changes- they are no longer free. Freedom was exchanged for death disguised as "a better life." Satan's tactics haven't changed- he still tries to convince us that freedom is going to leave us wanting and unsatisfied. And we, I, believe it so often. Do not be fooled! Freedom is life as it was created to be- a life where we don't want the petty little things of this world; rather we are enamored by God, wanting Him and everything He offers alone. Slavery seems to be our only option, but we can choose a slavery (marked by shame/fear/clothes) that leads to death or a slavery (marked by nakedness/freedom) that leads to abundant life as God's adopted sons and daughters.
Don't be deceived by fear or lack of understanding. Follow Him. Take the life He offers. Experience His love. Never be the same. BE FREE.
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