Listen: Freedom Speech!
It’s one of my favorite and one of the most popular movie lines. William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) in Braveheart, leads his fellow Scots (and one scrappy Irishman), into battle against the English for nothing less than their independence from the tyrant, Edward Longshanks. This is his battle cry and it is a truth that men have fought for, not just in Great Britain, but all over the world.
The truth is this: Freedom is a gift worthy dying for. In fact, sometimes, it takes dying to have it, to keep it, or to gain it. Our freedom is worthy dying for, especially the freedom from the rot and psychological damage of guilt and shame and sin. And precious as it is, our freedom was gained through nothing less than the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ died to set us free. And now, we are free, in Him, from the law of sin and death. Now, in fact, we are not merely free from the law of sin and death, but we are set free from fear! For those in Christ, there simply is nothing to fear — nothing at all (except for a healthy respect for our God)!
I watched a video clip today that shook me. It was a clip containing image after image of the Karen people of Burma who had been and are being ravaged by the brutal Burmese army and tyrannical leadership there. The women are raped, children are forced into slavery or into the Burmese army, men are tortured and killed. Homes destroyed. And as I watched the video, it was brought to my attention that some of these people are Christians. And I recognized that the truth of Jesus gift of eternal life that cost him is life means that these Karen Christians do not have anything to fear. No reason at all to live in fear. Not one iota. Not one ounce of doubt. Not even the tiniest fright. Not really. I mean – the Burmese army can hurt or kill the body. But after that – they are left with nothing.
But God, on the other hand, is able to restore body soul and spirit and preserve them all for the day of our redemption which is unto eternal life with God in Christ. And praise God for this indescribable gift. To live free of guilt and shame! Free of fear! No more need to worry how men treat us or shame us or disregard us! Fear not for we have been given life!
In the spirit of Braveheart, who died on the Highland battlefield for his freedom, never taken from him; we offer this battle cry to the tyrants of hopelessness today’s world – “You may take our lives. But you’ll never EVER take our FREEDOM!
