This week, the United States of America celebrated their Independence Day. On the 4th of July 1776, colonists officially declared their independence from the British Empire. In their Declaration of Independence, they said the following:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Did you catch who they said gave them their rights? The Creator!
There are many ways that we as people can obtain freedom. As a child, if you followed the teacher’s classroom rules, you got the freedom to enjoy recess. As the citizen of whatever country you call home, you have freedom when you live the law of the land. Freedom always comes through adherence to a set of rules. The most lasting and enduring freedom comes through following Jesus Christ.
John 8:36 says “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” Jesus Christ came to earth, lived, and died in order to make each of us free. His life is our guide and example on how to act in this life if we want eternal freedom.
In Galatians 5:13 we are taught that “you were called to freedom...only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love.”
Living a life of selfless service is extremely difficult. As imperfect people we will always make mistakes. But the most beautiful thing about Christ’s love is that he doesn’t expect us to be perfect right now. His resurrection makes up for any shortcomings we have. We can feel confident that as we try our best to use the freedoms we have been given in our spiritual and secular lives (and try and unite those two lives as much as possible) that we will have everlasting freedom through Christ.