Freedom isn’t Free!

Freedom!  Independence!  Red White and Blue!  Glory!  Patriotism!  FREEDOM!  These words cause a stir in the very pit of my being!  When I was young, I don’t believe that I truly understood the price that had been paid for my freedom.  My understanding came on my first missionary trip.  I went to Seoul, Korea on a soul winning trip.  Our job as a team was to share the gospel with appointments made by the home church. The people of the Church had been working many of those we would visit prior to our coming.  I was assigned with two others South Koreans and the three of us traveled across our “territory” making our appointments and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead along the way.  It was an incredible experience!  I personally led over 200 people to the Lord!  I was scared to death!  I was overwhelmed!   Toward the end of the week – my young interpreter had shared that she had been rejected by her family the day that she excepted Christ!  The cost of freedom for this young woman of 15 years of age was her family!  To her family she was dead.  She was living with the Pastor and his wife of their small congregation.  She had made an appointment for us to visit a young woman who was living with her brother-in-law since his death.  The woman had one small boy.  As we entered the home – I realized this was no ordinary visit.  The brother-in-law was a buddhist priest.  He was not home and we were invited to sit in an honored seat, served a dessert and tea and I shared my testimony and then the gospel with the young widow.  It was the first time in my life that I saw the power of the Holy Spirit working with such great visible power but at the same time I saw the enemy as his grip held this woman in the fear of homelessness and her culture!  Tears streamed down her face as she explained to me that with all of her heart she wanted this freedom and this relationship with this God but the cost was too great!  She could not – would not – pray and receive Christ because the moment that she did she knew that she and her small son would be thrown on the streets and it would surely be their death sentence.  She could not or would not see that Christ would help her.  I left that day understanding in a very real way that Freedom of any type is gained with great cost!  I don’t know if she ever came to Christ.

As we were finishing our time one of the deacons of the church was introduced to our team.  He was a colonel in the South Korean Army.  For the first time in my life, I would be taken to a military zone.  The zone that we would visit was  the edge of the DMZ.  This place was the “no man’s land” between North Korea (communist) and South Korea (democracy).  As we stood there in a look out post – the colonel gave instructions through the interpreter that we were to make no sudden moves and no joking around.  Snipers were watching from the zone and shots had been known to ring out.  There were constant voices coming from loud speakers.  We were told that the loud speakers were positioned so that Communist propaganda was broadcast day and night through the zone.  It was irritating and I didn’t even understand the language.  It was a sobering experience to watch American and South Korean uniformed soldiers working together at the edge of this zone.  As we pulled out of the area I took note that only South Korean Soldiers were in fox holes in full battle fatigues and weapons ready.  I asked why this was.  The colonel explained that their country would never again be taken by surprise!  They would always be ready for the battle for freedom!

This day as we celebrate the birth of our nation may we remember that the freedoms that we have were not gained and kept easily!  They cost!  There is always sacrifice!  We must keep fighting the good fight for freedom for us and for all!  In a place where we do not see the value of sacrifice and fight for freedom – may we make a conscious effort to recognize the fact that men and women have gone before us and paid the price of freedom in our country!  Celebrate this day!  Celebrate the birth of this nation but celebrate the memory of those who have gone before us and paid a great price for our  freedom!

Our ultimate freedom has been paid on the cross of Calvary!  It wasn’t free!  It cost God His Son!  It cost Jesus His life!  The sacrifice was great!  In Galatians 5:1 it reads, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  Jesus has paid the price for our spiritual freedom!  On this day as we celebrate the birth of our country, may we also celebrate the price paid for our spiritual freedom!  May we never forget it and may we know that when life is hardest we can trust the One who paid the price for our freedom!  We can celebrate our freedom, walk through the hardest places and stand firm!  We do not have to be subject ever again to a yoke of religious slavery or bondage to sin!

Happy 4th of July Ladies!  Let’s Celebrate!!!  Let’s be diligent and vigilant for true freedom!  Let’s share with as many people as we can the truth of our freedom!

Praying for you!  Meet me in the forums or post your comments!  What has freedom cost you?  What does your freedom mean to you?