You Are Free

I find it remarkable that the first words of God to mankind were, “You are free…” (Gen 2:16)

I also find it remarkable that as we look back over millenniums of human existence, we see our intrinsic longing for freedom bound in a cycle of gaining it, only to lose it again because of self-enslavement. We will spill rivers of blood trying to gain freedom, only to lose it again through over-governance— over-governance that we permit by our own free will, until that will begins to feel the tightening grip of enslavement around its throat again.  

When we look back over history, we see the church does the very same. The blood of Christ was spilled to set us free, yet as each successive century passed, the church became more and more enslaved through over-regulation. Then, the blood of reformers was spilled to remind us of our freedom, only for factions and movements to spawn across the landscape working to rob us all over again. Alas, the cycle continues because such is the curse of a creation that tries to make its own way— whether by politics or religion— because both equally enslave— one enslaving our outer man, the other enslaving our inner. 

Little children, Christ in you longs to reign freely and Christ rules over everything. He that is in you is greater than anything in this world. Christ longs to draw you upward, out of the darkness of your mind. Satan thrives in that darkness, working to keep you fearfully walking that tightrope, constantly focused on self—“don’t lean too far or you’ll fall off!” If Christ be in you, then beloved you are free. You are no longer enslaved to sin, the chains of your enslavement have been broken. Thus, there is no reason for any of us to live in a self-made cell. 

Today I want to remind you of God’s first words to mankind, “You are free to eat from any tree in the Garden…” Any tree but the one that enslaves us: The Tree of mankind determining what is right and wrong through our own reason— knowledge of good and evil not rooted in the heart of the Father who desires our freedom, but in the heart of man who will always inevitably enslave.

(Gen 2:16,17) And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”

(Gal 5:13-15) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

(Luke 4:17-19) And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”