Imagine a prisoner who remains in the prison cell although the prison door is open…this person is free and can walk out of the cell; however, if they choose to remain in prison, they are not living in the available freedom!
Recently, in light of all that’s happening globally, I have been thinking about the word freedom and what it means. Firstly, the dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint” and the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
For some, the word doesn’t mean a lot except what the dictionary says because they’ve never given it much thought. Others are constantly reminded that they don’t have freedom because they are physically enslaved or imprisoned. Still, for others, they bear scars because they fought for their freedoms. Still, there are others in between.
Secondly, freedom has both spiritual and physical dimensions. One might state that as Christians, we must understand that both dimensions are related, and often, the spiritual dimension of freedom will affect the physical experience of freedom.
The bible states in Galatians 5:1 that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
This verse might not be very clear to one group of people because this verse says that Christ has set us free. However, it is also the individual’s responsibility to remain firm in this freedom, to avoid losing it! So, Jesus has set us free, and God is the one who bestows freedom. However, one must recognize that this freedom must be lived out. To further illustrate, imagine a prisoner who remains in the prison cell although the prison door is open. On the one hand, this person is free and can walk out of the cell; however, if they choose to remain in prison, they are not living in the available freedom.
This illustration means that freedom can be ignored, and one can still choose to live in slavery. Now, imagine a second prisoner eagerly waiting for their freedom and doing all they can to get it.
Once the prison cell door is open, this second person will take advantage of the freedom because they have had their eyes set on the goal. The same can be applied to our lives. Are we aware of what Jesus has secured for us and willing to take advantage of it and fight to keep it? Or are we unaware and choosing to live in slavery unnecessarily? It takes a discerning person to understand that freedom is worth fighting for.
This article is not specifying how to fight for freedom, as that will depend on the situation and other factors. However, one must be alert and aware that freedom is a partnership between man and God. One must also recognize that freedom has a physical and a spiritual dimension. Finally, God has made freedom available. It is the choice of every person to choose It, and, according to the bible, it is our choice to be determined to remain free.
Happy New Month!
