Let God Make You Free

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Every year, thousands of people, both legally and illegally, immigrate to the United States. Most of them are drawn, irresistibly, by one thing -- freedom. Freedom to pursue an education, freedom to become whatever they want, freedom to have individual rights guaranteed, freedom to own a business, make money, live wherever they want. Freedom to worship as they please. Freedom to pursue happiness. Freedom to live without oppressive controls and restrictions. Freedom for a better life.

That famous lady, the Statute of Liberty, stands proudly in New York Harbor, proclaiming the possibilities and potential of America.

But liberty didn't originate with the United States, even though our nation is known worldwide for its enduring battle to maintain the freedoms it holds dear. Freedom originated with God. God, in short, is the original freedom fighter.

In the beginning, God made man to enjoy a relationship with him. But, He didn't want man to feel forced into that relationship just because God was His Creator. He wanted man to decide for himself that this was something he wanted. So, He made man with a free will. Man could make his own choices. And, oh, how God wanted him to choose to know Him. So, from man's first breath, God was there, as the lover of his soul, showing Adam how much He loved him, walking with him, talking with him, sharing the beauty and fascination of creation with him. God continued to shower Adam with love, answering his requests, creating Eve, showing His love in every way.

Then Satan, one of God's earlier creations, a former angelic being who'd used his own will to rebel against God, decided he'd work on stealing God's most favored creation -- man -- right out of the garden. He knew if he could get Adam and Eve to believe God was holding out on them, lying to them, didn't love them like He said He did, that they'd be under his control.

God had created all things according to universal laws He'd established ... like the law of gravity ... and all things operated under those laws. Satan personally knew about the law of sin and death. He knew if man sinned, there would be consequences because of God's holiness and righteousness. Satan knew that the rebellion he'd already birthed in the world would become a part of man's nature and that he'd be doomed to be governed by the law of sin and death once he chose against God.

And that's what happened. Adam and Eve believed Satan's lies, sinned against God and inherited a sin nature which has been passed down to every human being since. Man was no longer free. He had become a slave to sin and was condemned by his sin nature to eternal damnation and death.

But, God, who loves the world so unconditionally, couldn't bear this. So He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill the requirements of the law so we might be free again and enjoy everlasting life with Him. Jesus took our sin and our punishment on Himself. The Bible says that whoever believes on Him -- trusts in what He did on the cross for us -- receives God's gift of freedom and life with Him forever. He raised Jesus from the grave to prove it.

You and I can experience real liberty and be slaves to sin no more ... not because we deserve it ... not because we live in America ... but because God, our Maker, fought for our freedom and sacrificed His only Son to gain it. When you put your faith in Jesus, you'll experience freedom in a whole new way.

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