True Freedom

 Happy 4th of July Everyone!

I love celebrating the 4th!  I love everything about it--picnics, family togetherness, parades, and fireworks.  But most of all, I love what it stands for--Freedom.

Freedom is a wonderful thing.  Our country was founded on the foundation of religious freedom.  People for many years have fled to the shores of our great land to escape persecution for their religious beliefs, and they have thrilled to finally see that lamp of Lady Liberty lifted beside our shores.

But in spite of the wonderful freedom to be found here, there is one freedom that our country can not provide--and that is freedom from the grave.

 God is the first one who gave humans freedom.  Way back in the Garden of Eden, He gave His newly created Adam and Eve freedom to choose.  Freedom to choose to obey Him--or to listen to the deceiver.  They were not created as robots who could not help but follow the programming.  Genesis 2:16 & 17 tells us "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

We know what happened next.  And it's not pretty.  They disobeyed, and now they had a new freedom--the freedom to die.

But that's not the end of the story!  Our rescue is coming!  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:16 & 17

And if you skip to the back of the book, the best is yet to come!

"I saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' " Revelation 21:2-4

No more death.

At last!  After disobedience and "earning" the right to die, we will be rescued by our Savior.  Rescued from this world of sin.  Rescued from tears and mourning and crying and pain.  Rescued from the grave.

One year ago today, my dear friend lost her son to his battle with cancer.  He was young--younger than my own son.  And for now, he sleeps in the grave.  But his Jesus is coming back for him!

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. . . "  Isaiah 49:15 & 16

For now, sleep dear Jethenro.  Your rescuer is coming--and He brings with Him true freedom!