What Freedom Means Today
Freedom to Worship — Over two centuries ago thousands of exhausted blood-smeared soldiers tramped through mucky marshes, faced danger undauntedly, and held their heads high as they fought for freedom from the control of the mother country, England. They knew one day freedom would be theirs with Old Glory waving in the breeze. These soldiers, as well as family members and friends cheering them on, wanted most of all, freedom to worship God.
Little did the faithful men realize that their dedication and perseverance in winning the war lit the flame of religious freedom. In each succeeding decade, other Americans have picked up the challenge to keep the torch of freedom burning.
Today, we, as Americans, can follow the new Testament exhortation: “Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together...but exhorting one another.”
This Sunday you can attend your church, sing praises to God, and listen to God’s Word without fearing arrest, imprisonment, or persecution. Your sons and daughters can hear Bible stories from God-fearing teachers and be trained up in the ways of the Bible.
Why? Because countless soldiers armed with courage and a great deal of determination gave their lives to procure freedom for their sons and daughters and for your sons and daughters.
Freedom from Slavery
When the monster of slavery loomed on the horizon it once again clouded our treasure of freedom. As Africans infiltrated into our newly formed States wealthy plantation owners lost respect for human rights and bought and sold black men, women, and children on the auction block, branded them, and whipped them as they toiled in the hot cotton fields.
Then Abraham Lincoln, the wood splitter from the mid-west, climbed the ladder of law and crossed the miles to the east coast to become the 16th President of the United States of America. In one of the most famous speeches in American history Lincoln said,
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the purpose that all men are created equal...”
Once again, our country answered the call to preserve freedom. Soldiers fought - North against the South, slaves ran for their lives on the Underground Railroad, and Americans went to the forefront again to protect their freedom. In 1865, the war was won, the slaves were set free. Freedom prevailed again like a red lifeline running through our history.
Freedom in Christ
Now let’s travel back to 30 AD when a lowly man left his footprints on this earth as he went about healing the sick, teaching 5,000 on a hillside, and inviting children, “...come unto me...” Finally, He was captured, bound, tried, and condemned. He was sentenced to the most horrible death on a cross with steel spikes through his hands and his feet.
But there was something different about this condemned Man hanging on a cross between two thieves. When He died, “...the veil of the temple was rent in twain...the earth did quake, and the rocks rent and the graves were opened...” Most importantly, on that dark day the Man of Galilee claimed for us the most valuable freedom of all - freedom from sin.
John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
At a very troubled time in my life, I attended a church which I had been drawn to in a desperate effort to find security in freedom after living so many years knowing only the security of control. I did not think it was much of a possibility, but I walked into the vestibule, took a worship folder, entered the sanctuary, and found a seat near the back. I did not know anyone, so tried to sit apart from people. But by Divine design, I sat in the same pew as a lady who became a very good friend, Marty Goin.
The minister of music, Lenny Ehmcke, opened the service with “Glorious Freedom”. In the middle of the last verse, he raised his hand and stopped the congregation from singing for a moment and said, “We can be free from sin and we can be free in our daily Christian walk.” That was the ray of sunlight to open up the tightly shriveled blossom of hope deep in my spirit. I could be free in my daily walk with God – free from bondage and guilt.
Christ’s death was gruesome and heartless, but three days later, when He rose triumphantly over the bondage of death, He secured for me the full price of freedom from all aspects of the power of sin and death. After the service that Sunday morning, Marty came to me and introduced herself and welcomed me to the church. I felt her warmth and kindness, something I never forgot.
Today’s Battles
Today we celebrate many things and most of them are because of brave soldiers through the years have sacrificed to assure that we still had the liberties that we cherish so much. Today the battle we much fight is the one to preserve each of those liberties which were given to us by Almighty God. The attacks on each and every one of those God-given freedoms are slung at every freedom-loving Americans by men and women who loathingly hate what our country was founded on.
Let’s say a hardier thank you today to all our veterans for standing strong and for their commitment to helping preserve our liberties.