At this point, some might be preparing a case to defend our beloved civil liberties and honor the lives sacrificed to gain them. I want to be clear: I believe it a blessing from God to be able to enjoy civil liberty and I have great respect for the men and women who gave their lives in pursuit of such a great blessing for future generations. Nevertheless, are our eyes open to the slavery that still exists all around us, or is our perspective merely a carnal one? How many people willfully enslaved to sin see themselves as free individuals? How many allow themselves to be blinded by physical freedom to their true condition of cruel bondage?
Consider the corporate CEO who has never been indebted to any man, and yet finds himself exercising his “freedom” to fornicate, wrecking households and surrounding himself with scandal. Consider the college graduate with every “right” to drink, who spends her spare time crying over relationships she has destroyed with her drunken words and actions. Consider the young man, “free” to smoke to his heart’s content, until his heart stops and breaks the hearts of his family and friends. Consider the homosexual pairs, now gaining the “right to marry,” and consequently challenging their Creator and His plan for the family. Consider so many these days, “free” to fill their time with all kinds of entertainment which corrupt their minds, attitudes, and behaviors.
How many of those people fail to honor the One who sacrificed His own life to make possible the real and lasting freedom from sin and death? (Hebrews 2:14-15) As children of God, regardless of our physical circumstances, we have an eternal freedom that begins with a changed and blessed life here and continues with eternal life after we put off these physical bodies. Let us not forget Jesus' words to the Jews:
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, “You will become free”?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36 ESV)
My concern is that many are so focused on the freedom they enjoy in this life that they fail to see the glorious freedom from sin and eternal death and punishment that awaits in Christ. Perhaps while abusing such freedom they have escaped oppression and judgement from men in this life, but is that a worthy trade for separation from God in the next?
“We feel free when we escape—even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire.” (quote by Eric Hoffer)