People who live in the West believe they have much more freedom than previous generations and this is reflected in their lifestyles and views. Young people tend to grow up thinking they must throw off the restraints of the past their parents lived with. History gives the impression that the next generation thinks it knows better than the previous one, believing that, somehow, they have gained more understanding.
Perhaps they would describe this as freedom, but it is a misunderstanding to think that freedom means doing whatever they choose to do. Whether a person acknowledges it or not, the fact is that everyone is controlled by something or someone. It may be control by circumstances or situations beyond their control. Many elements influence us. I wonder who or what is controlling you, because this must be a major factor in your life. It can make or break, drive, restrict and direct, or if it is a good and godly influence, cause you to achieve the best.
From an eternal perspective, you were designed by God to be free. Real freedom is something that only our Maker can produce in a person. Although we were designed for freedom, the Bible says that we lost our real freedom when sin entered the world through one man, Adam. This first human being failed to maintain his God-given freedom by making wrong choices. He chose to disregard his greatest relationship, breaking God’s command in the illusion it would bring him greater freedom.
The consequences were the opposite of what he expected. Instead of being free he became a slave. The Bible says that a person without God is a sinner and that their sin chains them. They become a prisoner to their sinful nature and ways. How deceptive it is that man or woman think they can move to more freedom by throwing off restraint and live with the ‘if it feels good do it’ mentality! Sometimes our society and law calls this ‘human rights’.
While there are good elements to our human rights laws, there are also dangers. If these laws are opposed to God’s laws our demands for our rights will bind rather than set free. It is not easy for people to understand this, especially when some forms of religion remove freedom with a set of rules that are unattainable for a person without a relationship with God. God our Creator does not offer us religious rules; instead he offers a relationship with himself that totally sets us free from the law of sin and death.
God himself has provided away for us to be set free again by providing another Adam. This second and last Adam succeeded where the first Adam failed. I mean Jesus, the Son of God who willingly came to pay the price for our sin through his death upon the cross. He paid our debt in full and can set us free to live a brand-new life in the freedom God originally intended for humanity. This freedom enables us to do what is right in God’s sight. He gives us a new opportunity and fills our hearts with a deep desire to please him daily in word and deed. God said, ‘I will write my laws on your hearts and minds.’ This is real liberty.
Real freedom can only come into a person’s life through relationship with God and this relationship is only made possible through Jesus Christ. Once we realise that the greatest enemy to our freedom is lack of relationship with God caused by our own sin, the sooner we can recognise our need. If a person has no understanding and awareness of their need then they can never see the need for God’s solution. The great old hymn writer penned these words: ‘My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not inpart but the whole. Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.’
Why don’t you take the time to visit Harrow International Christian Centre and discover the real freedom God created you for? Check out our service times on the website. You will receive a warm welcome and hear how you can take real steps to freedom in your life.
I look forward to welcoming you personally.
Pastor Paul
