Article: You Were Called For Freedom

It was early January, 1991. I cannot remember the exact date. I do not think we were there a week. We found ourselves in what was known as the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. We were waiting for our equipment to arrive by boat from the states. Our National Guard unit was mobilized and now in country for what would be remembered as Operation Desert Storm. We were a transportation company responsible for moving equipment and supplies for the units. One morning, I woke up and it struck me. I cannot go out the door, out the building and go home. I am not free! I felt like a caged animal. Being the Executive Officer it was not good form for me to be “squirrelly.” Yet, I could not sit still - I went from room to room. I began praying and God answered my prayer. The Commander needed to go to the port and I was driving.

The simple trip to the port got my mind off my fear and it never returned. I was free from that fear. On July 4th, we remember our Declaration of Independence from King George III of Great Britain. Before we came to Jesus, we were slaves to sin (Romans 6). God said to Cain, “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Ge 4:7) Paul tells us that, “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” (Ro 6:20–21). We become slaves to whom we obey. We become trapped and cannot save ourselves. We became slaves to sin. But notice we were “free” from righteousness. But that is what we need to see God, to be reconcile to God.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Ga 5:1) Jesus came to set us free. Free from what? The power of sin and the death that comes with sin. Easter is our spiritual Independence Day. Three days earlier, Jesus was crucified. It was through the crucifixion that Jesus bore our sin and received God’s wrath for our sin in our place. “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ro 6:22–23).” Being saved by Jesus frees us from the power of sin, but our independence from sin and death leads us to serve our new and much greater Master, Jesus Christ. We are now free to love others as Jesus has loved us. We are free to do good works of righteousness to the glory of the Father.

When you celebrate this 4th of July, it is good to remember, “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.” It would also be good to remember your spiritual independence day,  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Ga 5:13) and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Ro 6:4). In Christ, you were called for freedom. Use your freedom in Jesus to love others as He has loved you.

Happy Independence Day.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ro 6:4). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ga 5:13). (2016). Crossway Bibles.