Freedom Isn't Free

Freedom Isn't Free

 

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(The Star Spangled Banner)

 O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
(God Bless America)

 America just celebrated the 241st birthday of freedom from the British Empire on July 4th. But the freedom that we Americans have been privileged with today came with a price. I am so thankful for the thousands upon thousands of courageous men and women who were willing to sacrifice their lives so the United Sates of America could be free. As I was thinking about the 4th of July and independence, I realized that the freedom the United States enjoys is not the only freedom that cost a great price. Freedom from the bondage of sin cost Jesus the Christ his life. What a glorious thought that Christians have been freely justified by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. When we're justified, it's the same as 'just as if I'd never sinned'. When God looks at us, He sees the blood that His holy Son Jesus shed on the cross, and it covers us. (Romans 3:24) I think being free in Christ is more wonderful than having all the freedoms in the world.

Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

Because of one man, Adam, condemning judgement came upon everyone in the world. But because of one man, the second Adam which is Jesus, the free gift of salvation is made available to everyone through faith. (Romans 5:18) Romans 5:19 says "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." It's amazing to think that even though Jesus was sinless, he became sin for all of us; He knew that we could never pay the debt because we were born in sin. Christians should be rejoicing that they are no longer servants of sin, but of righteousness. How thankful I am today for the saving grace of our loving Savior, Jesus! I am reminded of the song "He Paid a Debt He Did Not Owe".

He paid a debt He did not owe
I owed a debt I could not pay
I needed someone to wash my sins away
And now I sing a brand new song
Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay

My debt He paid upon the cross
He cleansed my soul from all its dross
I tho't that no one could all my sins erase
But now I sing a brand new song
Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay

O such great pain my Lord endured
When He my sinful soul secured
I should have died there but Jesus took my place
So now I sing a brand new song
Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay

He didn't give to me a loan
He gave Himself now He's my Lord
He's gone to Heaven to make for me a place
And now I sing a brand new song
Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay

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If you have been justified by Christ's blood, don't make provision for the lusts of the flesh--serve God, serve others, and use your liberty to be ambassador for Christ. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Next time you think about freedom and the sacrifices men had to make for this country, don't forget that Jesus paid your debt and made you forever free.

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." ~ John 8:36

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." ~Galatians 5:1

Rejoicing evermore,
Ashley