What Does It Mean To Be Free?
Lately, I have spent a lot of time in my head. Wondering am I really free? What is it to say I am free? What is freedom really? Just another word for nothing left to lose according to Kris Kristofferson penned in his famous song sung by Janis Joplin, “Me and Bobby McGee”. Is that jaded pessimistic viewpoint correct or just the viewpoint of a frustrated young adult struggling to deal with the cruel realities and heartaches of life and love?
Maybe I am like Forky from Toy Story 4 and I just want to ask the question. What is Freedom? Webster’s defines freedom as the quality or state of being free: such as. a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence. Independence… interesting I never viewed it as that…what is independence? Again, I ran to Webster and got not dependent: such as. a(1) : not subject to control by others : self-governing.
Well, I thought to myself, thinking my thoughts aloud, what does God say Freedom is? So, I whipped out my NLT and started searching for freedom as defined by God. Psalm 119 verse 45 says, “I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “For the Lord is the Spirit and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Galatians 5:1 the Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Freedom, according to Webster, is the same as God’s Word, freedom is then the power or the right to act, speak, and/or think without hindrance or restraint.
Ok now we are getting somewhere, but wait, how do I know if I am free now that I am aware of what freedom means? Hmmmmm…. once again, I am stuck in my head trying to figure out how I can tell I am free. I am starting to think René Descartes attainability of knowledge borders on the insane. I mean I may “be”, because I think, so therefore I am, that is all well and good, but how do you know you are a free being? Is there some kind of nose swab thingy or test I can take, hey you just took the freedom test and you are 57.6% free….
Back to reality, there actually is a test to know if you are free or not. It is one simple question, do you believe that Jesus is The Son of God? If you do then you are free. Free from the penalty sin, which is death. Free from being separated from God. Free to love God with all your heart and free to love others as you do yourself. Free from a doomed world that is evil. Free to live as God intended for us all along. Free to experience the everlasting saving grace of Christ Jesus. If you answered yes to the question do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, guess what…. You my friend are FREE!
Know that Jesus died for you, in order that you might live, he loves you and salvation is only a yes away; believe and be free!
Love,
Phillip Allen