Freedom…Not so free.

Yesterday, we celebrated Independence Day here in the United States of America. We watched fireworks, baseball games, parades, and TV specials – maybe the Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Many of you may have lounged around the house, had a cookout, went to the lake/river or something like that. Many of us wore red, white, and blue proudly displaying that we are Americans. Maybe, some of you talked about or commemorated what Independence Day is all about…freedom.

But how many of us actually talked about what that freedom cost?

Millions of men and women have died over our two hundred and forty-two-year history to obtain, protect, and preserve our nation’s freedom. Many of us forget what is going on all around the world every second of every day to keep our nation free.

Free from tyrants. Free from war. Free from persecution. Free from injustice. Independence Day should be a wonderful time where we appreciate and recall the benefit and the cost of freedom.

This annual remembrance reminds me of how as Christians we sometimes forget and under appreciate our freedom. Not freedom from other nations or injustice. Rather, freedom from sin and the consequences of our sin.

Over two thousand years ago, God came down to the Earth He created because we needed freedom. He put on human flesh and lived the life we could never live and died the death we deserve, so that we may live with Him forever. He did this willingly and it cost us nothing.

The Bible says that all we have to do is put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we will be saved. However, that opportunity to live with God for eternity was not cheap (much less free). It cost Him everything including His life.

1 Peter 1:18-19 says “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Jesus’ death gave us freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from our earthly bodies – pain, sickness, and disease. Freedom from worldly things. Through His resurrection we have freedom from death. Freedom from eternal separation from Him.

Sounds nice, huh? It cost you nothing, but it cost Him everything.

This Independence Day, no matter where you are around the globe, remember that Jesus gave us the ultimate Independence Day and I encourage you to appreciate and remember what it cost Him.

And just as you walk around with red, white, and blue gear to show the world you are proud to be an American – wear the light and grace and love of Jesus everywhere you go. Show and tell proudly that you belong to Jesus.

Anyway, I was just thinking…