Freedom :o)

On the 4th of July we take the time to remember that we live in a free country; a freedom that was obtained through war, blood, sweat, and tears. As contradictory as this sounds, freedom does not come without some sort of "price" to it. America had to fight for the freedom in which we now so lavishly live. Far too seldom do we take the time to think about that; that our great great great great (add however many more are neccesary) grandfathers fought off tyranny so that we truly could live in an independent nation.

Driving home today after watching yet another amazing fireworks display with a peacefully sleeping baby in the back seat, I was thinking about freedom. About personal freedom, about our nation's freedom, and then God once again gently whisphered into my ear "Remember the freedom that I bring." John 8:32 says "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you FREE." And that truth? That the Almighty Creator, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, The Ruler of Heaven and Earth...that Amazing God left His high place in heaven to come down to live a lowly life to pay that price that freedom costs. Just like the price that the American soldiers payed so long ago so that I can receive an education, freely worship, and be who I want to be without fear of punishment, Christ waged war against the very things that held me in captivity. Through blood, sweat, and tears, Christ once and for all payed the debt that we owed because of sin so that the bondage that prevented our true freedom could forever be shattered, wrecked, ruined, completely demolished! And what "price" do we have to pay for this freedom? I always wondered what it would be like to let someone I love go off to war...to fight knowing they might never return...would I be willing to do that? To be in the thick of the blood, sweat, and tears? And thats the amazing part about Christ's freedom...we don't have fight the fight. We would never be adequate enough to fight it...we are too powerless. And thats why He said that He'd pay it...because only he is powerful enough to fight this fight. All we have to do is accept it. Like a small child eagerly waiting to open her presents on her birthday, we simply have to hold out our hands and say "Thats what I want." Accept it, nothing more, nothing less...and then the whole concept of "Independence Day" will radically change within your heart!