Although the world may consider it blind optimism, the revelation of Jesus Christ our Saviour and faith in our Heavenly Father, deposits in us an expectation that each passing year will be better than the last. To desire more freedom and less hassle is high on our wish list.
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
The unfortunate misinterpretation of freedom has left an entire generation believing the absence of obligation is true freedom and entitlement is a right. But does this personal freedom create victims? And is this really what Jesus was referring to?
The cost of freedom is a very familiar term. Receiving something for nothing costs someone something.
So what truth is Jesus wanting us to receive in this John 8 discourse? Put simply, Jesus frees us from that which we cannot free ourselves.
Among other summer highlights, camping on our ten acre lakefront plot was a yearly event. Yes, there was an abundance of mosquitos, black flies, and the water was cold. But none of these ever served as a deterrent.
We were probably preschoolers when my brother and I received our very own fold up camping chairs. How we loved those chairs. Mastering assembling and sitting was soon achieved. But at such a young age I was no mechanical genius. To venture to reposition the chair was another level. As I grasped the seat, stood and moved, I was unaware the locks had disengaged. Placing my weight on the seat caused the chair to collapse below me, firmly jamming my fingers in the strong wooden scissor joint of the chair. I was trapped and completely powerless to free myself.
My hands were trapped beneath me. I needed someone to intervene, to rescue me, and set me free. One parent dressed me down, but it wasn’t a warning I needed. Too late for that! I needed to be rescued.
My purple and black swollen hands and fingers was the evidence and consequence of my immature action. It left me unable to use them for the remaining campout.
Jesus does both. He both warns us and rescues us. To perceive His warning as restricting is very shallow. Yet how amazing is our Saviour that even after clear warnings He still rescues.
I learnt a lot that day. A lesson that has given me wisdom on how to use and not use camping chairs for the rest of my life. I will not go back or repeat the matter. When Christ has set you free, the last desire in your heart will be to be found trapped again.
John 8:36
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
– Ps Bev Mortlock