The Cost Of Freedom

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free..... Galatians 5:1

Independence, freedom, liberty ....that innate desire that beats within the heart of every man, woman and child to be free. Free to live according to the dictates of our own heart, our own conscience, our own desire. Many have sacrificed their lives to give us that rich heritage that makes us a great nation. As we celebrate our independence on this 4th of July, many a heart will thrill as we watch the spectacular display of fireworks that symbolizes a free nation founded on liberty and justice for all.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a spiritual battle has raged over the souls of mankind. A very high price was paid by one man to bring liberty and freedom to His people. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ walked a rugged road to Calvary to break the yoke of bondage that locked all humanity into the camp of our greatest enemy, Satan. Seeking at every advantage to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10) he leaves his victim beaten, battered and bruised staring in the face of discouragement and utter despair. Having no strength within ourselves to fight this enemy and break the chains of sin that bind us unmercifully to him, we continue in hopeless defeat. But Christ has promised us victory in this battle. He states “I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly”. He has won the victory for us. In our weakness we find His strength to be our hope against the forces of darkness. We can, therefore, in complete faith claim the merits of His victory, standing fast in the liberty wherewith He has made us free (Galatians 5:1). What a promise! We are no longer bound in the prison house of sin. In Christ, our mighty deliverer, the enemy of our souls is defeated. The yoke of sin and the power of Satan is destroyed. The walls, the barriers, the iron chains of sin are broken, and the enemy is driven back. We have the victory through the authority we have in Jesus’ name.

The banner under which all Christians must stand is the cross of Christ! Only as we understand what was accomplished there, can the journey of a lifetime begin. Sins forgiven and sanctification promised, we are justified freely by God’s amazing grace and made whole in His righteousness (Romans 3:24, 25). As we march forth under the mighty banner of Calvary, standing firm, united and unshakable in our faith, the prince of darkness and his host of evil angels must flee. For the weapons of our warfare against Satan are mighty through God. He will cast down and bring into subjection all that wars against the knowledge of Him, brining us into obedience to His will in our life (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). What a promise of victory! Even when the battles of life may at times seem overwhelming, bleak and unending, there is hope, there is victory in Christ.

The cost of freedom is high. The innocent as well as the guilty must suffer the pains of war to remain free. Only those who have been in bondage and know the agony of its power, can rejoice in liberty. The enemy of our souls with the skill of a master deceiver, works diligently to lure us into the snares of sin and delusion with a tainted picture of its true import. Not until locked tightly in his web of destruction, do we understand its power. How do we break free from the hold of the enemy, from his bondage, from his working in our life? Through the power of the Cross. Jesus Christ has broken the bondage of Satan. His victory will forever be the source of our strength and the only means to fight the forces of darkness that war against us. We must stay strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might. Putting on the whole armor of God each day that we may be able to stand against the cunning devices of the devil. We must strengthen ourselves with truth, with righteousness, with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy, our mind set on the path of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Along with much prayer, and supplication and perseverance in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, Satan has no power! Our victory is assured.

The great controversy between Christ and Satan, the war that rages for each and every soul, will continue to the end of time, but one thing is certain....Satan is a defeated foe. The victory was gained at the cross when Christ cried out “it is finished”. He paid the price for the sins of mankind. Through His shed blood salvation is assured for anyone who places their allegiance under His might banner. Our inheritance is secure, for we are the sons and daughters of a mighty God, who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us (Romans 8:32). Christ, the sinless one, He who never knew sin, became sin for us, taking our punishment, taking the payment for the broken law, so that we through His sacrifice could have access to the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are, therefore, more than conquerors through what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Though Satan will attempt at every turn to overshadow this great love through our sinful nature, we must take hold of those precious words in Romans 5:8....”while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. From the very beginning God had a plan to redeem His children from the hand of his arch-enemy, Satan. If you desire to be free, then you shall be free indeed through the power of that banner of freedom....The Cross! Let nothing deter your pledge of allegiance to victory in Jesus Christ.