Sermon Central
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True Freedom
Contributed by Marty Roark on Jul 1, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: We spend alot of time talking, singing and even dreaming about freedom, But I wonder do we really know what true freedom is?
True Freedom
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
In our society, We desperately seek freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom for refugees, freedom to work anywhere that you choose even if your not suited to the job or even to not work at all, freedom to choose to eat or not eat genetically modified food, freedom to go on vacations in safety, freedom to use your vacations when you like, freedom to choose the store you buy you clothes in – Freedom.
In fact in our society the ultimate punishment is taking freedom away through imprisonment.
We like to see ourselves as a land that is free – But that freedom cost some people a great deal - for some it cost them their lives – this is what we observe on Independence Day, Our Freedom.
I wonder though, do we really know what Freedom is?
We had the opportunity to experience true freedom in the past two weeks.
About 14-15 miles east of Cody Wyoming on property that belongs to you and me (It’s BLM public land) my family and I spent 2 days watching the wild mustangs and all the new born babies on what is called the Bad Lands.
Make no mistake about the name. There is nothing bad about this land, as a matter of fact, Shelby asked our guide why something so beautiful had a name like the bad lands.
It got its name from the Native Americans because nothing would grow there, but the land itself is one of the most beautiful places you could ever imagine.
As I was standing above the valley looking out, I realized that what I was looking at was exactly the same thing those Native Americans looked at so many years ago. It has not been touched, no factories, no shopping malls, no gas stations, nothing but God’s creation.
And in the middle of it are these wild mustangs. Exactly the way God had created them, flawless. Sure they had a few scars here and there from each other and probably the land itself but the animals themselves are as close to perfection as you can get.
They look better in the environment they were created to live in than any horse I have ever seen on any farm. Their manes are beautiful, their coats are as shiny as any I have seen, they have great muscle tone and their hooves are perfectly trimmed out, all without the help of any Human being.
They are living in the place God had created for them because their ancestors survived from day one to today. They can go anywhere they choose and yet they stay where they know they belong. Where they have everything they could ever need and ever want.
The only rules they have is what the dominant mare lays down.
It is almost as if the understand 1 Corinthians 10:23
The Believer’s Freedom
23 "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.
That is Freedom.
Just like the mustangs we too have freedom. If we accept Christ we are really, truly, 100% free, but we don’t act like it.
We are free to be alive and to live the way God intended from the very start. But we are scared.
True freedom is freedom that serves one another under the direction and guidance of God.
Wild mustangs follow the direction of the dominant mare. She is the one who watches out for them day and night and she is the one that makes sure no harm comes to the herd.
As we were watching those horses I noticed that the dominant mare always had her head up watching us, especially as we came closer to the herd. The closer we got the more nervous she became. She was making sure that we were not going to hurt any of the group.
God is always watching us too. He not only wants to make sure that we are safe but also that we are doing what we should be doing.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
But Jesus tells us we need to be watching too. We need to be watching to ensure that we do not lose our freedom.
38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
We as Christians should want to follow the direction of God. The more we follow God the better the relationship we have with God and the better the relationship with God, the more prepared we become to live a perfect life with God.
