Freedom!
When Jesus gave the great pronouncement, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” many who heard took His words as an insult. They said, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Try to tell a fish that you can make it fly and the swimming fish will think you’re crazy! “I’m flying already,” it thinks, so oblivious it is of its environment in relation to the world above. The fish thinks that what it sees is everything. It does not believe in water. It believes it is flying.
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (see John 8:31-33, 34, 36)
“I can quit anytime I want,” boasts the alcoholic. “I just don’t want to right now.” And so says the addict, the workaholic, gambler, rager, materialist, proud-hearted, bigot, thief, abuser, smoker, cultist, hoarder, backbiter, liar, kleptomaniac, money lover, fame seeker, egoist, coveter… and on…
Paul testified this:
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11-13).
The Christian finds that Christ fills all those empty corners of body, mind, soul and spirit. C.S. Lewis writes, “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” (Weight of Glory.) Augustine of Hippo summarises, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
Our hearts are driven to worship and if they do not choose Christ they choose something hollow, they cannot surrender it because the vacuum must be filled with something. That “something” is Christ. Embracing that Truth frees us from all lies. He frees us from sins, from their hold on us, and from their penalty against us. He frees us to experience fulfillment in Him in this life and grants us fulfillment in Him through eternity.
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”
Press on…
- Are you interested in being discipled one-on-one in the fundamentals of new life in Christ?
- Are you struggling with hurts or habits? Celebrate Recovery may be for you!
- Want to know more about turning your life over to Christ?
Use the Contact page and we’ll get you started.
thebrokenrunner 
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