Living free

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8: 36

I find it very difficult to visit zoos, animal or safari parks, in fact anywhere where animals are kept in captivity. Once you’ve seen animals in the wild, seeing them in captivity is hard because you know they were not born for this. 

I understand of course that protecting endangered species in zoos is a way of possibly safeguarding their future and zoos do have a huge educational purpose to fulfil for the vast majority who are not fortunate enough to see them in their natural habitat.

Having said that, I remember the story of a polar bear cub talking to its parents: 

 ‘Mum, Dad aren’t we polar bears?’

‘Of course,’ they reply.

‘Aren’t we meant to live in the Arctic?’ 

‘Yes,’ they reply.

‘So why are we living in London Zoo?’ 

Many animals in zoos are of course born in captivity which is meant to give credibility to the fact they are content, and certainly once animals start to breed in captivity, many animal experts feel that is a sign that they are settled. However I can’t help wondering, and of course we will never know, if something within them always craves for the savannah, the jungle, the sea, the desert, the Arctic, the Antarctic, the place they would naturally call home. Every animal seems to be ideally suited for their habitat even when that habitat seems incredibly hostile to our human eyes. Just watching a David Attenborough nature programme reveals that to us. 

Each one of us was born in captivity and until we let Jesus set us free from our habitat of sin, guilt and shame we will always be living captive. Once saved, Jesus doesn’t put us into his zoo but releases us to be all that he created us to be. We are meant to be free - free body, mind and spirit. God has such an amazing plan for each of us. 

Our final home will of course be heaven, ultimately the new heaven and earth because this is where we were created to live, on the redeemed earth totally restored to it original plan and purpose and something within each one of us craves that home. In the meantime though each of us has a habitat that God has called us to live in.  What is sad is when Christians settle for less than God has called them to.

Sometimes Christians remain living in the old self of sin not realising that Jesus has redeemed us from that old life.  Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 Passion Translation. What a great promise that is, and one that the devil will do all he can to keep us from realising. 

There are times when Christians allow circumstances to overwhelm the Word of God. Too often believers would rather submit to their circumstances than realise that what the Word says is true. The Bible is called the word of truth. Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ John 8: 31 – 32.  Taking hold of the Word, declaring it into our lives releases truth and freedom. 

Finally Christians can be content to settle for less than what God has created them to be. They would rather live in the captivity of comfort than find their real place of destiny. Like those in the parable of the sower, they hear the word but are choked by worries, riches and pleasures of life and they do not come into the full fruition God desires. 

The Christian life is not an easy life but it is so worthwhile and God has a beautiful plan and purpose for each of us individually as well as corporately. My heart is that we do not live either geographically, or spiritually and emotionally anywhere but right slap bang in the middle of what God has called us to be. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God Ephesians 3: 16 – 19. 

Home

But our citizenship is in heaven Philippians 3: 20

Set your mind on things above not earthly things Colossians 3: 2

We were on our way home after a long journey round South Africa. We stopped for petrol just before the last leg of the journey – and the car broke down. Several hours later we were towed back the way we had come to a garage that could fix our car.

I cannot tell you how upset I felt about going away from home. I had been greatly anticipating getting back to our house, our things, the place where I feel most comfortable and at ease. Now not only were we not going home, we were driving in the completely opposite direction.

All of us are destined for our real home – heaven and if we are confident that is where we are going we too should look forward to it with great anticipation.  However the reality is that many Christians secretly believe that heaven will be boring; sitting around all day singing worship songs, maybe twanging a harp and hoping they can summon up enough enthusiasm to ‘worship the Lamb’.

Of course nothing could be further from the truth. As James Garlow says:

Take your deepest longings. Think of what you crave, what fills you with delight, joy you've never experienced but yearn for just the same. Remember your longing for home, for a lover of your soul, for the contented wholeness that leads you to the place you've never been yet can’t forget – the place where your every desire is satisfied more abundantly than you've ever dreamed. Heaven is that home.

That is the reality. The most wonderful thing is that we will be loved unconditionally, affirmed, appreciated and greatly valued just for who we are. Imagine that. No ulterior motives, no control, no manipulation, no rejection. Just pure love.

We will  be reunited with all the people we love starting with Jesus but including all our family and friends who have given themselves to serving the Lord. We will have eternity to get to know one another better but most of all to get to know Jesus and our loving heavenly Father and surely that will take eternity.

Out of that will flow the most awesome worship from hearts poured out in adoration to their Saviour and God.  Thousands upon thousands of voices raised in unity to honour and worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nothing dull or boring about that.

There will be certainly be no opportunity to become bored in any other way. Mankind was created to look after the earth in all its amazing diversity and beauty and the new heavens and the new earth will be perfect just as God created them to be not tarnished in any way by sin. There will be wonderful ways to serve and work in a deeply satisfying, fulfilling and stress free manner.  Think of all the things you would love to do and then imagine all the endless possibilities to explore with the kiss of heavenly perfection on them. That is just the start of the wonders of heaven which are far beyond my imagination either to think of let alone write about.

Best of all will be the deep sense of being home with the ones we love and who love us. We are but pilgrims in this present earth; our destination is heaven where all will be well because the Creator of all things dwells  in great glory with his Creation – which includes you and me - his loved ones.