“If the Son, therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).

As Americans we have the privilege of enjoying more freedom than any nation in history. We have the freedom to get an education. We have the freedom to live where we want, to travel where we want, to work at whatever occupation we want and achieve whatever we want. Most importantly, we have the freedom to Worship God as our conscious dictates. America provides us with more opportunities than any nation anywhere. These freedoms are guaranteed by our Constitution. But as the Educator Thomas Sowell once said: “We are guaranteed equal opportunities. We are not guaranteed equal outcomes.”

Our freedoms were purchased at great cost! It cost the lives of men and women in the founding of our nation. Those freedoms have been preserved at great cost through our present day. The lesson each generation must learn is that Freedom is not free!
Someone must pay the price for it.

However, if we only have the freedom as an American citizen, we are still not free!

For the ultimate freedom, the freedom from sin and death, can only be found in Christ!

This freedom was purchased at great cost! It cost the life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ! But through His death and His Mighty resurrection, the power of sin was broken! And all who receive Him as their Redeemer are set free from the power and the penalty of sin (Romans 6: 6-7)! And although the gift is free (Eph. 2:8-9) the price of that gift was costly! And like our freedom as American citizens, let us also cherish the freedom we have in Christ. May we never take it for granted!

Rev. James Black