Freedom

I took the photo of these bound wrists in Bermuda.  The statue depicts a young slave named Sally Bassett who was burned at the stake in 1730.  It's a gruesome memorial to her death and it made me think how horrible it is to be bound and enslaved.  Sadly, that's the condition of every person who is unsaved.  The opposite of being bound is being free.  The glorious news is that there is freedom in Christ.

The Bible is full of references to freedom. 

"This is what God the Lord says - He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it" Isaiah 42:5.  God is speaking to Israel, but His word frequently applies to all His children.  "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand...to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness" Isaiah 42:6-7.  Jesus reiterated these words when He read from the scroll of Isaiah during a visit to Nazareth.

Paul said, "...by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit..." Romans 7:6

"...that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" 2 Timothy 2:26

It's one of those glorious paradoxes in the Christian life: submission to God means freedom in Christ. 

 

Not to make light of this message, but below is a photo of Storm and Kendall taken at the Norfolk Zoo.  Imagine being taken captive and behind bars for real.  It would be sad indeed!