We have been in a number of countries. Nearly every one of them has some sort of Independence Day celebration that marks independence from another power. Most of them were costly in terms of lives lost. In many of them, freedom for common people was not achieved. Some states failed all together. To have freedom and independence seems to be part of us, but consider that true freedom–the kind that is permanent and eternal–is quite another matter. Even the Bible recognizes that many people are not free by recording scenes of people and places where neither independence nor freedom was present. Yet, Christ clearly teaches that true freedom is found within Him for those who call on Him. And, in the end, we are called, as believers, to be free in Him but also choose to be dependent on Him. To love God and related to Him is very real but necessitates a choice for a person to let God be Lord rather than claim and act as if we are lords of our own lives. I love my country and its freedoms, but it cannot give me freedom in the heart. That comes from my God as I choose to be related to Him. For the readers who know Jesus Christ, you know what I mean. To those who do not know Him, choose wisely. Your decision will be permanent.
