Freedom

Here in the United States, the 4^th of July is Independence Day. It is a day of celebration all across the country. In 1776, on July 4^th the congressional leaders approved the wording of the document which we call the Declaration of Independence. They were officially declaring their intent to be a separate nation, free from the rule of Great Britain…tyrannical, in their assessment…and they were declaring what they would be doing as a group of “free and independent states”. The Declaration is a powerfully written and interesting document.

This concept of freedom immediately brings to mind John 8:36 - So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The whole declaration reads like this: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Praise God! We who have accepted Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Savior have been set free! Free from what? The tyranny of sin in this life and eternal separation from God in the next life. You see, once we leave this earth in death, we will live again eternally. Accepting the Son as our Savior means that we are free to live with Him forever in heaven once we leave this earth. Accepting the Son as our Savior also means that we are free to live with His power while we are here on earth (thank You Holy Spirit).

Now that’s a freedom worth celebrating!