Pathway To Freedom

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.   Galatians 5:1(NIV)

 

 

   The scene opens where we see Jesus stumble on the way to Golgotha.  The place nicknamed the skull, where men are sentenced to die.  Jesus falls under the weight of the cross.  He is physically exhausted and blood trickles from His many wounds, making puddles in the street.  Soldiers pull a man from the crowd, put a spear to his face and forces this stranger to carry the cross.  If you could look past the crowds of people you would see two sets of footprints marked in blood going all the way to the cross.  He was nailed to a cruel cross with a sign on top reading, "The King of the Jews".  Jesus was in an incredible amount of pain.  He was between being awake and unconscious.  A medical examiner looking at Christ's Crucifixion referred to this event as a "symphony of pain".  On the cross, Christ also bore all the sins of the world.  Everything that we ever did wrong Jesus took it upon His shoulders at the cross.  With intense pain over His entire body, Christ quoted scripture.  He took  a deathly, slow inhale and exhale of air and declared, "It is finished", then He died.  A large curtain in the temple was torn at the precise moment Jesus died.  This curtain represented the highest and holiest spot.  Now that the curtain was torn anyone could go to the holiest spot.  Now let's look at some steps we may take to accept the freedom God intended us to have through His Son's death on this cruel cross.

 

 

       Three Steps To Freedom:

 

The first step to freedom is Sacrifice.

 

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15(NIV)

 

     In our culture it is hard for us to understand sacrifice.  Nobody gives up anything.  In Jewish tradition sacrifice was a part of life.  When somebody sinned they went to the priest.  The priest killed a lamb and placed it at an altar on behalf of their own sins.  Then another lamb was slaughtered to cleanse the person.  On the Day of Atonement, many animals were killed and blood filled the gutters.  Sin is messy business.

     When I was a child, my brother, sister and I fought over a certain toy.  This frustrated mom and BAM...before we realized it the toy was placed on the top shelf.  Looking up at the top shelf, I never realized how much I wanted that toy.  Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve?  God told Adam and Eve that they could eat from any tree in the garden except for one.  This made Eve very curious.  Out of all the thousands of trees and precious fruit in the garden, the couple was drawn to the forbidden tree.  We have a yearning for what we can't have.  As quick as you can snap your fingers, a mistake at work can happen.  It takes a lot of people to correct a wrong; just like sin.  Things we do daily against God are hard to change.  "Everything is permissible for me- but not everything is beneficial for me."                                                             1Corinthians 6:12a (NIV)

     A greater goal pushes us forward; it forces us to keep on the right path.  During World War I, young men were drafted into the war.  Some of the men died or lost arms and legs for the cost of freedom.  Freedom in war had a great cost in the battle at Vimy Ridge:  three thousand died and seven thousand were injured.  During World War II, the average person in Canada had coupons where they were limited on the amount of sugar, gas, coffee and heating oil.

     When Jesus died on the cross the disciples went into hiding.  They did not want to die by the Roman army.  Scared, timid, weak and helpless describes the disciples.  Until they met together in prayer and the Holy Spirit filled them.  These men became strong, courageous and bold.  They helped to change the world for Christ even if it meant death.

 

 

 

The second step to freedom is Persistence.

 

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like a few days to him because of his love for her.  Genesis 29:20(NIV)

 

   

     Jacob was persistent with his goal to mary Rachel.  Seven years is a long time to wait for someone.  It is very hard to move ahead when things are bad.  We all want to turn around and head for home. How do you press ahead when fear and danger are everywhere?

     During World War II, Britain was being bombed by the Germans.  It seemed that all hope was lost.  Civilians looked out the window only to see their great cities being destroyed.  Winston Churchill realized the gloominess of his nation.  Through an inspirational speech about fighting on land and sea people began to see hope again.  Britains brushed the dust of defeat off themselves and began to fight.

     Sometimes the light at the end of a tunnel is an oncoming train.  On June 6, 1994 allied troops arrived at the beaches of Normandy.  In warfare, those on the high ground have the advantage.  The Germans waited.  When the small boats beached themselves, the firing started.  Many soldiers never made it beyond the beach.  Others still pressed on until victory was gained.  It was not an easy win, but was accomplished through persistence.

     Apostle Paul was one dedicated individual.  It seemed nothing could stop him.  At one time, he was a member of the Sanhedrin and a Jewish man with Roman citizenship.  All of these things put him in a special class above the average Jewish person.  Paul gave all these benefits up for the cause of Christ.  For the cause of Christ he was beaten, shipwrecked, starved and left to rot in jail.  It was because of him that churches were started and God's message was heard.

     In Operation Iraqi Freedom, coalition forces (which includes Canada, USA and Britain) often finds themselves in a dangerous situation.  It is hard to fight a war when the enemy can be anyone.  When the war started, the Moslum nations declared a Holy war.  This helped Iraq gather support from all Moslum nations.  A few times an individual has strapped explosives to himself and walked among a crowd of soldiers in the hopes of killing the enemy.  Soldiers must wonder why bother?  But it is by their efforts we do not have terrorism in Canada, Britain or USA.  Persistence keeps us safe.

 

 

 

The third step to freedom is Honor (bravery).

 

Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13 (NIV)

 

     In the trenches, bullets whizzed past.  The sound of screaming comes from no man's land (the land between the two trenches).  With no regard for his own personal safety, the soldier crawls across the dangerous field towards the wounded soldier.  The rescuer throws the injured man on his back and heads toward his trench.  The rescuer saves a man from the clutches of death.  Many such stories are told about war.  Canadians have a good reputation and over the years have received ninety four victoria crosses.

     It is hard to continue to fight when you know life will not get better.  The disciples were not what is seen on pictures.  I remember a picture of the disciples gathered around the table at the Last Supper.  All the disciples glowed and had halos.  I don't believe they really glowed and had halos showing above their heads....they were just ordinary men who were dedicated to God.  They knew the Romans would hunt them down and kill them.  This did not deter them from preaching the truth and they were all killed for their faith.  All except for John.  He was boiled in oil but did not die, so the Romans put him on the Island of Patmos:  A prison colony where he was in extreme pain from the burns.  His skin would have been extremely sensitive, making him shiver because the burns absorbed so much heat from his body.  In this miserable place and horrible condition, John saw heaven and wrote the book of Revelation.

     A young boy named David tended sheep.  He was asked to bring food to his brothers who were fighting in a battle.  The shepherd boy saw a large eight or nine foot man yelling at the Israelites.  Everyone was afraid to fight this giant except David.  He wore the king's Armour but it was too large.  David faced the giant with what he knew:  God and his sling shot.  The giant was defeated and victory was gained.

     Some would make Christianity easy so that anyone could grab it.  We must realize that anything that is worth anything has a cost involved.  It is not easy.  If we stay true to our principles, we will have an effect on our world.  A watered down Christianity will have no effect.  The Moslems in Iraq are willing to die for their "god".  Their methods are extreme and intentions misguided, but if we could have even five percent of their commitment to our Heavenly Father our world would be forever changed.

     Christ was willing to go to the cross for you and I.  One of His greatest temptations was when the devil led Jesus out in the wilderness, and told Him He could have it all at no cost.  It is the cost that Christ paid that makes us free.

     When I was a teenager someone asked if I went to church.  I ignored the question and didn't respond for fear of rejection.  I have learned that we must stand for God even if it is not popular.

 

Conclusion

 

     There are people who would walk through a landmine, walk through deserts and live in trenches for your freedom.  Christ died on the cross so you can be free.  All that is needed from you is to accept Him.