Last week we looked at some of the documents produced by our Founding Fathers, along with some of their insights, and their connection with what God says in His Word, the Bible. Reflecting on the moral state of our country, we were reminded of the words of John Adams who said:
“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other…. Avarice, ambition, revenge, and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our constitution” (John Adams).
Also, in his book America on Trial, we reflected on the words of Robert Reilly who said:
As the founders predicted, we are in trouble because the virtue needed to sustain the republic is fast disappearing, close to the point of irretrievability” (Robert Reilly).
We also discovered that besides the sin that resides in the human heart, we are also facing two destructive philosophies, namely, Moral Relativism and Progressivism. These two destructive philosophies are stretching the limits to which our nation can survive, and that’s why it is important for all of us to be aware of the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Colossae:
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).
But with all of this, I want to address the issue of what true freedom looks like. It comes as no surprise that the answer is not found in our country’s historical documents, but in God’s Word, the Bible.
I’m sure that you remember the historical account in the Book of Exodus of the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt for over four hundred years. After the miraculous parting of the Red Sea (in my opinion, the Gulf of Aqaba), God led them into Midian and eventually to Mt. Horeb, where Moses received the Law. And then, shortly thereafter, twelve spies sent by Moses entered the Promised Land and returned with the report that the land was full of amazing produce (milk and honey). However, ten of the twelve spies focused on some challenging aspects of their trip into enemy territory, choosing to focus on the “giants” in the land and their well-fortified cities. As you know, the response of the people was grumbling against God and against Moses, saying:
“Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:3).
Return to Egypt where they would have plenty to eat and drink, but where they would once again be enslaved! The choice was between having abundant provisions or returning to a life of slavery. This provides us with a vivid picture of the real danger of big governments today, even here in our own country. We should all be aware of the fact that our government was instituted to ensure our freedoms, not take them away, as would have been the case had the Israelites returned to Egypt.
Our Declaration of Independence “declares” that we have been “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, namely, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Although it usually escapes our notice, the signers of the Declaration added this:
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The signers of the Declaration of Independence realized that governments are formed to ensure that these rights are not taken away. However, Thomas Jefferson recognized a potential problem with all governments, and specifically with large governments,
“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have … The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases” (Thomas Jefferson).
And Jefferson also wrote:
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first” (Thomas Jefferson).
Jefferson feared that an out-of-control government would begin to act like “criminals,” removing our freedoms piece by piece, often unnoticed by the general population. He noted that the safeguard to prevent this from happening is not to “re-write” the Constitution, but to apply the one that we already have!
Moving beyond the issue of civil government, let’s now turn our attention to true freedom. And that’s where Jesus’ words take front and center:
Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” (John 8:31-33).
Never been enslaved to anyone!!!! Are you kidding me? The Israelites had been enslaved by the Egyptians (as previously noted); by several surrounding nations during the time of the Judges; by the Assyrians; by the Babylonians, and finally, they were currently occupied by the Romans. The bottom line is that those religious leaders to whom Jesus was speaking were in denial, like many of us. Those who are trapped in destructive behaviors often deny the fact that they are really not enslaved. Such destructive behaviors are certainly not God’s design for our lives, for He sent His Son so that we might “have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Jesus continued addressing the crowd by saying,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).
In the Greek, the phrase “everyone who commits sin” is in the present tense, which means continuous action on behalf of the one who is sinning. In other words, if sinful behavior is the characteristic trait of a person, then that person is enslaved to sin, as much as they may try to deny it!
But did you notice how Jesus talked about a slave not remaining in the house forever? In the first century, slaves generally came into the house during the day to do “chores,” but then returned to their “slave” quarters apart from the house at the end of the day. They certainly don’t “remain in the house forever.” But I think Jesus had something else in mind.
Remembering some of the history of Abraham and Sarah, Abraham believed (because Sarah was barren) that Eliezer (his property manager) would be his heir, someone who was not a descendent from his own body. As a result, Sarah offered her Egyptian maiden (a slave) to Abraham so that he would have a descendent from his own body. As you know, that son was Ishmael, and both Abraham and Sarah believed that he would be Abraham’s heir. And so, Ishmael, the son of a slave woman, lived in Abraham’s house for the next fourteen years.
But then, two angelic visitors announced to Abraham (and Sarah) that she would bear a son, a product of their own union. Of course, being far beyond years of childbearing, they laughed, but God provided the miracle, and Isaac was born. He was not the son of the slave woman, but the son of the free woman, Sarah. And it wasn’t long before Sarah demanded that the slave woman and her son be removed from the house! History suggests that Ishmael became the father of the Arab nations, while Isaac and Rebekah would later bear Esau and Jacob, with Jacob becoming the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
I believe that Jesus used this familiar illustration from their own history to try and get the religious leaders to understand what it means to be a slave, and what it means to be a free son. A slave bears the characteristics of their father, the Devil, while a true son bears the characteristics of the Son of God. I’m reminded of John’s words to the churches,
See what great love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called “Children of God!” And that is who we are! (1 John 3:1).
John is telling us that we are not just “called” God’s children, but we actually “are” His children. In other words, it’s not just a title, but a confirmed fact. If you feel that you are not really one of God’s children and are outside of His family, then it never too late to submit yourself to God’s only Son, repent of your sins, and receive Him as your Savior and Lord.
But this isn’t all that I want to share about true freedom. Next week, I will prepare my blog prior to my surgery, and get it out to you next Saturday morning. And following that, I may take a short break in blogging during my recovery time in August. I’ll keep you posted. But I will be getting a final blog on this current subject next Saturday.
Blessings to all.
