When I read that this time around, I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed the correlation to us as God's children before.
How often is this us?
Jesus gave us official and unbreakable freedom when He died for us on the Cross 2,000 years ago. His speech was three simple words that signed it: "It is finished."
No longer bound to the law or to the inevitable curse of an eternity in hell apart from Him-- we were FREED.
Free from sin, free from death, free from darkness, free from the law, free from apathy, free from hell...
free to BE, free to LIVE, free to WORSHIP, free to have PURPOSE, free to walk in LIGHT, free to have JOY, free to have HOPE and to give it, free to LOVE and to BE LOVED, free to MAKE A DIFFERENCE, free to KNOW GOD and WALK with Him.
Yet here we are.
Over 2,000 years later, still crippled by the religiosity of the law, chained by fear, and trapped in our sin.
So my question is, are we really free?
Why do we choose to stay bound when God chose to unbind us?
If there's a big open field covered in a rainbow of wildflowers and sunshine, with a horizon of endless mountains, asking to be danced in with an open invitation, why would I ever decide to remain chained against a dark, cold, cell wall when the KEY is in my hand?
The answer is our sinful nature. I've struggled with remaining chained to this wall for years with various addictions and relationships and toxic behavior in my own life. But that's not a good enough excuse when the key is in my hand. It's not in anyone else's hand but my own.
I've been to this freedom field. It's the most beautiful and life-giving place I've ever known. Yet still, I am faced with the option each day to walk out into the field, or stay chained against the wall.
I know I'm not alone in this and that all of us have chains that bind us from dancing out in the field of freedom. But if you're anything like me, you probably get angry with yourself. Like WHY can't I just unlock myself? Jesus gave me the key and ability to do so... why would I CHOOSE to remain in these chains?
But these chains begin to feel comfortable. When we've worn them and lived with them for years, life without them starts to sound absolutely terrifying. Anything else seems impossible and unattainable. So we settle, because although the chains may be crippling, they are assurance of how things WILL be when they're wrapped around our hearts.
Life apart from them is unknown and therefore we avoid it at every cost. As humans we love to know exactly what will happen, when it will happen, and whom it will happen with. But that's not what God asks us to do when we follow Him. He asks us to give up the security of knowing and walk with Him into the field of freedom each day.
HE ALONE is the only security we need to have and know. He will always take care of the rest for us. We can't thrive and be truly FREE until we choose to take off those chains that we've let bind us for far too long.
So I challenge you to take the shiny key out of your clenched and trembling fist, and unlock each rusty chain that's binding your heart.
And start walking to the field of freedom. It will look different for everyone because God loves each of us so uniquely. It won't be easy, and will indeed be scary. It won't always be pleasant and comfortable. It will ask you to give up things that you've done for a long time and might even enjoy.
But I promise you that it will be the most beautiful place you've ever been to. It will hold adventures that you'd never imagine and bring you some of the best people you will ever meet.
And best of all, it will captivate your heart to fall deeper in love with Jesus with every unknown second that you breathe in His freedom.
But you can't have both. You have to choose. It's the hardest choice you'll ever have to make. But it's the difference between existing and living.
Let's be people who live and dance and adventure through this world without fear and the assurance that we are 100%, eternally FREE.
So what are you waiting for? Unlock yourself.
-Han
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