Freedom

Written by Pastor Maryeve Boyd

John 8:36: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Freedom:

Earthly freedom is an external liberty— the freedom to speak, to gather, to vote, to express your beliefs openly. During this week, we especially remember those who've gone before us, paving the way for our nation's independence and personal rights.

This kind of freedom is granted by governing authorities, and preserved through the struggles and sacrifices of brave men and women— our military, law enforcement, public servants, and countless others who've given of themselves for the sake of liberty.

We see symbols of this freedom in the waving flag, the carefully crafted Constitution, and the stories of wars fought and heroes remembered. These remind us that earthly freedom comes at a great cost.

Yet, this freedom is not guaranteed. It can be taken away by oppression, corrupt leadership, shifting laws, or even our own misuse of it. Earthly freedom is bound by individual rights. It often centers on personal autonomy, and at times, drifts into the pursuit of self above all else.

And as we reflect upon the cost and beauty of our earthly (nation's) freedom, we are reminded of a deeper, more lasting liberty— a freedom not bound by earthly borders and laws, but by the grace of God, through Christ.

But spiritual freedom is an internal freedom— one that only Jesus can give. No government, person, or system can offer it. This is freedom from eternal death, from shame, guilt, addiction, depression, anxiety, and the grip of selfishness. It is the kind of freedom that transforms us from the inside out.

But let us not mistake this freedom as free— it came at a price. A greater cost than any earthly battle for independence. Jesus left the glory of heaven, stepped into our broken world, and lived as one of us. Then, through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, He paid the ultimate price so we could be truly free.

When we see symbols like the cross, pass by churches, open the Bible —the living word of God— or gather to worship and observe the Sabbath, we are seeing markers of this eternal freedom. They are reminders of grace poured out and a liberty no one can steal away.

This week, as we celebrate the freedom we enjoy as citizens of a wonderful, free nation, ask yourself today: Are you also walking fully in the freedom Christ has already secured— or are you still living your life as though you are bound and chained? Are you living a truly transformed life?

Acts 2:21, Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:1-10, Galatians 2:20-21, Titus 2:11