Greetings Freedom Loving Saints and Friends,
​“Larry! How are you doing?” “I am doing great, Jim! I’m sure glad we have this fence we can talk over nearly every day.” “Yes, me, too. Gives me that ‘neighborly’ feeling. Not something those living in the city have.” “How is your family doing?” “Fine, just fine. Did I tell ya, how happy my wife was when at last she was able to grow a garden complete with carrots, lettuce, beans, radishes, and strawberries?” “No, you did not mention it. Sounds good, though.” “Yes, but she discovered that she was not the only one happy about this lush little garden. The garden seemed to attract some rabbits we never knew were around.” “Oh no, what did you do?” “Well, to keep my Deary from becoming less cheery, I set out to rid her garden of the little cottontail critters. Within two days, I had rounded up the five garden-feasting, long-eared gray fellas and arranged to take them to another home the next day. But in the morning, I found the door open to the cage where I had put them. ‘Strange’, I thought. ‘How could they have gotten out?’ Soon the puzzle was solved. Our eight-year-old son, Zach, was lying in the backyard nose-to-nose with a new friend. Zach said, ‘Look Daddy! He wants to stay with me!’ I replied, ‘Son, do you know where the other rabbits are?’ ‘Yes, Daddy. They hopped away.’ ‘Do you know how they got out, Zach?’ ‘Yes. I opened the door on their cage.’ ‘Why did you do that, Zach?’ ‘They wanted to be free!’” “Ha-ha! Jim, did Zach quote Patrick Henry? – ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!’” “No, Larry, he did not quote Patrick Henry. But it was a good time to tell Zach about real liberty and freedom. I asked Zach if he knew why sometimes he is grounded for a few days. I asked him what he thought happens when his sister can not drive the car for a week. Or even what happens when a judge bangs his gavel and says, ‘30 days!’” “What did Zach say?” “He actually answered the questions correctly. He said it sounds like people’s freedoms are taken away.” I said, yes. That while not all of their freedoms were being taken away, certainly some of them were.”
​“That seems like what is going on today, Jim. Right now, we know what it’s like to have some of our freedoms taken away from us.
Not because we’ve done something wrong, but as a consequence of what others have done, beginning with Adam and Eve. Yet, we still have many freedoms because of what others have done and continue to do on our behalf. I believe people yearn to be free. When you look around the mountain top or in the sky above the canyon, what does that high-flying eagle represent? Freedom! What do nations and individuals fight to keep or gain? Freedom! We were created by God to be creatures that would desire freedom. Sadly, many people are in captivity today. That’s because we are not simply physical beings. As God’s creation, we also have a spiritual capacity. Unfortunately, we are born in spiritual bondage, separated from God, Who desires to have a wonderful relationship with each person. Remember Jesus said, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16 Neither human determination nor self-effort can overcome the bondage of sin. Yet, what we are unable to do, God can achieve. He would love for all to know and live in true freedom. Because of our sin, we had a debt that we could not pay. God says, the penalty of sin is death. The Bible says, Jesus died in our place to pay for our sins. 1 Cor. 15:3” Therefore, God offers Freedom from the penalty of our sin. What does Jesus want to do? Jesus wants to set you free. Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 Through Jesus, God also offers Freedom from the power of sin. The Bible says, He has delivered us from the power of darkness. When we are tempted to do or say something, we have the freedom and the power to say, ‘No, I will not do it! And finally, God offers freedom from the presence of sin. In Heaven, there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. God sent His Son to open the door to set you free. Anyone can tell Him: ‘Jesus, thank You for paying the price for my sins, to set me free from the penalty of my sin, for giving me freedom over sin, and your promise of freedom from sin’s presence in Heaven. Help me to live as a truly free person by living for You every day. Amen’