True Liberty only comes from God!
Liberty is the common cry of people today; but it always eludes them. With all the best and modern technology available to us, and the power of communication allowing us to express everything throughout the world in many internet platforms; one might think that everything is within grasp, but the cries remain unsettling, the yearning more pronounced.
Various form of rights are being fought, defended in several arenas, legislated in many courts, and a lot more are being considered in public forums. We can start with the call for individual freedom and human rights. We have the animal rights, plant rights, LGBT++ rights, abortion rights, women’s rights, students rights, parental rights, and many more. With all of these, are we all finally enjoying freedom? Are we all settled and at peace with one another and are we now better in considering each other? The unfortunate reality is, remotely so!
The big question is why? It is so because the freedom that people desire is the freedom being taken away from another. For the most part, the cries for liberty and human rights are more intented to covet, to claim, to steal the freedom already being enjoyed by others. The fight for freedom results into a neverending conflict, intimidation, and wars between nations. All of these sadly end in misunderstanding, disceimination and the worst loss of innocent lives. Where is liberty?
The liberty the world is fighting for is not the Liberty this world needs. This freedom everyone is fighting for is powerless to set anyone free. Would this invalidate their longing for freedom? Is it worth their efforts and the loss of lives? Where does the problem lies? Or does the world knows there is a problem?
Thank God, the Bible has the answer! The problem is people are longing for freedom, for the sake being free: with no restrictions, no standard and without proper accountability. It is liberty that is applied to all. It is freedom available to one race, a particular gender, one with special status, and one religion. A freedom only enjoyed by a few is not freedom. It is not liberty if it can be bought with money, moved by influence, enjoyed by the famous, taken by the use of intimidation, and brought about by lies. It is a liberty without law and standard.
Not only are people pursuing the wrong and false kind of liberty; they inquire about liberty from someone who still looking for it; from someone who has not experienced it. They are asking the wrong people and getting it from the wrong source.
People want liberty for the wrong reason or purpose - to give way to the desires of the flesh. It is selfishness that attracts the proud, the covetous, and those who take advantage of others.
And many are they who genuinely express their desire the true freedom that comes from God. They go to the right places. They approach the right source and they have the right motives or reasons but another problem lies in their refusal to follow and obey the “laws of liberty” it requires. Most continue to follow the worldly perspective with the freedom they yearn to possess. They fail to continue, abide, live and apply the “laws of Liberty.”
The true and perfect Liberty is offered to all. Its only source is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way to the perfect Liberty. He embodies liberty and He is the Life of liberty. Without Him, there is no Liberty.
The Constitutional liberty tries to protect the freedom of all the citizens of a nation but it is not perfect. It is not permanent and has no eternal value. Many heroes have given their lives fighting and many continue to fight and die to keep this freedom.
The perfect liberty from Jesus Christ is totally free. It was paid once and for all at the cross. We do not need to sacrifice anymore to maintain our freedom. The freedom Christ offers is eternal. It is Liberty that gives way to greater freedom; not the kind of freedom to indulge in selfish pursuit, but the freedom to live right and to reach and help others to live free through the power of the Gospel of Christ, not only in this life but for all eternity.
Conclusion:
We who are in Christ have been given this freedom to enjoy and be a blessing in this life. The Liberty God gives allows us to enjoy the goodness and the power of God. It teaches content and gives us the willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ. It is freedom able to suffer in this life, waiting for the revelation and the glorious anticipation of the blessed life to come. For we have the assurance that in glory we are forever and perfectly free.
Praise God for all those who are willing to suffer and give their time, effort, substances, and their precious lives for the lost and the captives for them to receive and experience to live free through Christ Jesus, our Lord!