Freedom, freedom, 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. Galatians 5: 1

I have always been a bit of a sucker for YouTube clips of animals being rescued, whether it’s bears from cages or horses that have fallen into muddy holes, or baby elephants who can’t get out of a waterhole. I love them all and they make me cry. It’s so wonderful to see animals experiencing freedom, sometimes after years of being in a cage or exhausted from struggling to free themselves from a place they’ve trapped themselves in. 

How much more wonderful is it when we realise Jesus has set us free from cages of sin, guilt and despair or muddy holes of bad habits that have imprisoned us for years. This Easter how wonderful to meditate on the wonder of what Jesus did when he died on the cross setting us free to be who God made us to be.

I love seeing bears that have been released from cages lolloping across the grass, jumping into a pool (bears love to swim) or have a good scratch against a tree. It brings tears to my eyes.  I am blown away that Jesus chose me, a not-at-all nice person, lost and drowning in sin to be his child. 

I also am deeply moved when I see those formerly bound by addiction to alcohol, nicotine or gambling free from these bondages. Sin is a terrible taskmaster, binding us into despair and hopelessness but once free, it is so amazing to walk in that freedom to choose life, to choose love.

That’s the most marvellous thing of all - Jesus did this for love, For the joy set before us, he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sitting down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12: 2).  Jesus doesn’t call us into a life of slavish devotion where we have to constantly appease a vengeful God. No God’s vengeance on sin was fully atoned for by Jesus. God’s wrath was on him. Now we are drawn into a relationship of love – God’s powerful, unconditional love for us and in return we give our feeble adoration that deeply touches God’s heart.  It was love and love alone that took Jesus to the cross and love that kept him there. 

How can we not fall to our knees in overwhelming thankfulness for all God has done? Let’s turn our minds away from virus and lockdown and rejoice in the wonder of our salvation and the freedom we now live in.