True Freedom

by Brandy Webb

Today is Independence Day for those of us in America.  It is our day to celebrate our freedom.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to get into politics or history because I am not really good at either subjects.  No, what I really am thinking about today is that full complete freedom won’t come until the last trump.

Right now, we live in a world that has a lot of joy and pain, smiles and tears, life and death, oh, how I am looking forward to when there is just joy, smiles, and life.  

When I was a kid, my main goal in God’s kingdom was to have a pet lion.  I longed for when the “wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them,”(Isa 11:6).  See, I wanted to be the little child, but well, I’m a lot older now, so  I guess I’ll let another child lead.  

Seriously, though, I cannot wait until God wipes “away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Rev 21:4).  Yet, until then, we can enjoy the fact that we are called to be free in Christ, but we must not let our freedom be an opportunity to give into sin, “rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal 5:13-14).

So, those of you that are going to enjoy today with family and friends, have fun and enjoy the moment.  Others of you that may not live in America, still have a great 4th of July, for “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psa 118:24).  And let us wait patiently for the coming day where the whole world will be set free.