There is a tragic
reality in our nation. We have slowly forgotten and departed from the truest
meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial Day has slowly become a day in which we honor
the dead. However, that is never was the intended purpose of Memorial Day. This
day was set aside not only to remember those who had fallen but to honor and remember
the sacrifice they made in order to defend our freedom. Shortly after the Civil
War the last Monday in May was set aside to honor all those who died fighting
in any war. Memorial day is a day we recognize all those who gave their lives
so that we might live as free men and women.
It is for
this reason that I feel it is most appropriate to remember the one man who paid
the ultimate price in order to provide ultimate freedom. The man Jesus Christ!
We were once all slaves’ prisoners of sin, shame, and fear. We were living as
thou we were dead, no purpose, hope, or future. Exhausted by the burden of our
life feeling as if we were dead internally trapped in a dying body. But through
the death of Christ and his resurrection from the dead we now have a hope of
living again!
He died so
that we might have life. He suffered and died on the cross in order to please
God by taking our punishment for us. He not only took our physical punishment
but went to hell for us and rose out of hell. He freed us from the demands of
the law. He gave us hope because it was impossible for us to hold to the
standard of perfection. He was perfect, without sin, the sacrificial lamb of
God.
Paul reminds
us in the book of Romans 8: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of
life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the
law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, [b]weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of[c]sinful
flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin
in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law
might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set
on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for
it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to
do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot
please God.” Paul brings out several key point for us in this passage.
However the central message throughout this passage relates to our freedom from
our old nature through the sacrifice of Christ.
In another letter to the
Galatian believers Paul, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore
keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Our
freedom in Christ is one of the overarching themes of Paul’s writings. This is
a reflection of Paul’s own personal faith journey. Paul speaks in length of his
former life and the bondage he felt as a result of the law. It is apparent that
his salvation encounter was one that produced such a sense of liberation and
freedom. It is this sense of freedom in Christ that propelled and shaped his
theology, worldview, and heart for ministry.
In like fashion, everything we
do as followers of Christ ought to reflect the truths of our newfound freedom in
Christ. Did Christ himself not tell us
that if we continue in his word that we are his disciples indeed: and we will
know the truth and the truth shall make us free? Who the son makes free is free
indeed. So then if we are his disciples indeed we ought to live accordingly!
The letter of the law has been
fulfilled in us. In other words, we are no longer obligated to keep the letter
of the law, our ransom has been paid in full. We have a new name and that is A child of the one true King! If we are
His children indeed than we will not focus our time and attention on who we
once were, rather we will focus on becoming more like Him. Let us remember the
one who gave His life so that we can live as free men and women.
Those who have given their lives
in the fight to defend our freedom serve as a lasting monument of bravery, and
service. It is for this reason that we honor those who gave their lives. They
set an example for us all to follow. In the same way Christ gave his life so
that we could live free, so then we ought to give of ourselves so that the
world may know Him and live free. While physical and political freedoms are
greatly treasured, let us never lose sight of the greater freedom spiritual
freedom.
Nations
come and go; political freedom can be earned and lost. However spiritual
freedom can neither be earned nor lost. For whom the son sets free is free
indeed. Freedom found in Christ is by far the most valuable freedom one can
ever receive and enjoy. Let us then live in a way that reflects that freedom!
Let us examine our lives in order to identify areas in which we have neglected
that freedom and surrender them wholly to the Lordship of our savior!
Freedom is offered to you this
morning from whatever you are going through! God desires to free your broken
heart, to bring freedom to your family. It is offered to you this day….
What will
you choose?
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