Liberty

    We have all heard the call for volunteers. It happens almost continuously from one source or another and Americans, in general, answer that call by opening their hearts, purses and wallets in astonishing ways. From political to civic, to service clubs, to emergency relief, hospitals – you name it – folks generously help with dedicated time, sacrifice and funds. Nobody forces us, it’s done voluntarily. Volunteerism is looked on as something to be admired. We think of an all volunteer military as an asset. People enter into the military life because they want to serve and we admire them for that attitude. We all know individuals who spend many long, often tiring hours working in service or civic organizations with no financial recompense and we admire them for their dedication. That’s just the way we are! Most of these attitudes expressed arise from the basic foundation of what it means to be a Christian. Christianity is a way of life, but it too is all voluntary. No one forces us! We become a part of the Christian family because we want to. When one has liberty then one can make those sorts of decisions in their life.

    [Romans 6:16 (ASV)] “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” We all decide who we are serving, Satan or God. We all decide what we serve, evil or good. There isn’t any place between evil and good. Sin, Satan, or evil is bad because it leads to separation from God and spiritual death. Good, God, or righteousness is good because it leads to a relationship with God and life. Life is liberty. Citizens of the Unites States of America have many liberties. You are familiar with most of these: the right to bear arms, free speech, the right to vote, etc. Patrick Henry is recorded as saying, “Give me liberty or give me death.” His speech was expressing the goal of many to be free from the rule of England. We should have the same cry in our hearts between sin and righteousness. We should desire to be free from sin. Our desire must be to follow God’s will and not that of wicked self-serving men. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1 NKJ).All who are living in liberty should rejoice in liberty, physically and spiritually, and have no desire to be in unrighteous slavery again. “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus or Lord” (Romans 6:20-23). We do enjoy many liberties in these United States that many people in the rest of the world do not have. But spiritual liberties are possible for every living soul on earth. These liberties are found only in Christ. Sinners do not have these liberties. Christians are granted these liberties because they serve under Christ. But just belonging or hanging around the periphery of the family of God is not really a good option. Just as being a volunteer in a civic organization takes activity, being a Christian takes activity in the family. Christian is an action word! We are always looking for ways to serve one another and in turn bring honor and glory to God. In these difficult times of separation and inability to assemble - continue to pray  for the saints everywhere, encourage the faithful, continue the practice of worship on the Lord’s day, be it innovative and different, and remember to support the local work the best you can.