On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and exclaimed, "I have a Dream!", the most powerful and resounding speech in our generation with the final words still echoing through our land, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are free at last!"
Jesus is also for freedom and has a dream. Consider the powerful words of Christ about freedom, perhaps forgotten in our land.
30) As he spoke these things, many believed in him. 31) Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32) You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."33) They answered him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free'?"34) Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35) A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36) If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37) I know that you are Abraham's offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38) I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."
39) They answered him, "Our father is Abraham."
Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40) But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this. 41) You do the works of your father."
They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."
42) Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me. 43) Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word. 44) You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45) But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me. 46) Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47) He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."(John 8:30-47 WEB)
Unfortunately the rally cry for freedom has left Americans and the World in a most pitiful condition. While men labor, strive, and fight for freedom from tyrannical rulers they each themselves are locked in slavery to their own vile sins which they cannot nor will not cease. Or worse, the free democratic people of the world party and rejoice in their delusions of freedom hoping to bring the cure of democracy to the world while they also are no better off, but have hands, head, and heart likewise chained to abominable sins with the devil himself as their slave master.
A true pastor once preached that through Christ we can be free from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. And one day in eternity those for whom Christ died will finally be free from the presence of their own sin and the sin of others. Total freedom is coming, but the best one can claim at this moment is to be free from the penalty and power of sin ruling their life, but not the presence of sin in their own life or the lives of those around them. The best one can claim is to be 2/3 free. And apart from faith in Christ there is absolutely no freedom at all.
100% freedom is coming for the elect of Christ, but it is reserved for that great day. Governments cannot advance that day. Democracy cannot advance that day. Wealth cannot advance that day. Education cannot advance that day. Human striving cannot advance that day. However, the cause of Christ has won 2/3 freedom for his people right now as well as true hope that full freedom is certainly coming with His return.
Would you stand with the Jews of Jesus day and boast that you have never been a slave to anyone? Would you hear Christ quietly say to you, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin"? Or would you follow the example of Paul who instead preferred to call himself a slave of Christ and serve Him patiently while looking forward to that great day?
Look to Christ and dream of that day when we are truly free, free from sin forever!
