Free Indeed
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:34-36
I loved the movie ‘Braveheart!’ The story was how one person led his country of Scotland to rebel against the English Empire to gain its freedom. It has been a while since I last saw it, but one of the things I enjoyed was the main character named William Wallace, who was played by Mel Gibson. The character was playful, funny, and an incredible tactician that consistently outmanuevered the British Army. Ultimately, he was caught and executed, but it was the spirit of his convictions that carried the rest of his countryman to ultimately win liberation from England. In the film at Wallace’s execution, he refused to ask for mercy despite the crowd’s chant for it. Before he is beheaded, he shouted the word, “Freedom!” While many parts of the movie were sensationalized and even false, the message and his impact in real life were not.
It made me think of my idea of being born again and what Jesus Christ did for us. The concept of freedom is not one lost on me because my mother studied history and instilled it in me. She would frequently remind me of its value because of many of the struggles her and her parents fought through for equality. In my personal journey, I used to believe I would never get to heaven because of my sins. Yet today, I do not have that weight on my shoulders because in short, I believe (in Christ) and thus, I receive (God’s gift of grace).
We are free indeed because of the gift of grace through Jesus Christ. There are many who do not really understand the gift of God’s grace. To understand the weight of sin, we must focus on its destructive nature. We can have sin that can be as simple as small lie or as big as killing someone. It could be yelling at a customer service agent or punching someone in the face. What is important to note is that damage and/or hurt is done and there is nothing that can change it. Like a car that has been in an accident, it cannot be made the same. It can look the same, but underneath, something is inherently different. That is the impact of sin. Yet through Christ, we are made whole. He rights our wrongs and fixes the damages in our hearts. Ideally, this repair pushes us to repair those who we have wronged as well. That is what I best remember when I was given grace from all the sins of my past, present and even future, and it humbles me as I seek forgiveness from those who I wrong even today. This is the goal of God’s people. It is never to be perfect for only Jesus Himself is perfect. But it is to humbly seek Him out of not duty but love. The same love He showed for us when He gifted us with grace. The same love He has always had for us. That is how we are free.
Our freedom is what allows us to love others as Jesus loves us. I was reminded of the story of Harriet Tubman this week and how her passion to free others burned from her own freedom. Liken to it, God’s love for us burned so greatly that He sent His Son to free us from that which prevented us from having a loving relationship with Him. When we understand how great God is, we can truly appreciate what it means to be free to love and worship Him. Let us rejoice in that freedom given by God through Christ. What perspective on freedom do you have when you reflect on God’s grace? What sins, past or present, do you need Jesus to free you from? My prayer is that we acknowledge the power of Jesus to make us truly free indeed. Amen.