Freedom is ever on the lips of people. Those in the West cling to it as a birthright and are quick to rail against any infringement on their freedom. For those in oppressive and authoritarian countries, freedom is a hopeful ideal but an unrealistic reality. No matter our circumstances, the human soul longs for freedom and many times will do whatever it takes to obtain it.
We fight wars in the name of freedom, and build ideologies around it. We shed blood and exchange ideas in both civil and not so civil manners, all in the name of freedom. On earth, we can win or lose freedom, and we can cherish or squander it. But most have no idea what it even means to be free.
The world thinks that to be free is to be autonomous, and the pride of this life makes autonomy the ideal. We want no king or ruler to tell us how to live. Human nature desires most to do what it wants to do. In the beginning, this meant worshipping God. Since sin came into the world, freedom now means the ability to pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle (1 John 2:15-16). We exchanged the freedom imparted to us for life for freedoms that will only lead to chaos and death. Only humans would be so clueless to make such an exchange!
In John 8:30–36, Jesus explained that no one who sins is ever free. They are slaves to sin (John 8:34). No matter where you live, how much power you have, or what you think, you are not free. You may think you are living according to your desires, but you are only obeying what Satan plants in your mind to do (Ephesians 2:1–3; 2 Corinthians 4:4). You aren’t free; you are a puppet. Puppets are powerless to live another way, and damned to an eternity in Hell. Is that the freedom you so desire?
Jesus said all those who have Him are free indeed (John 8:36). As followers of Christ, we cling to that, and we revel in our freedom. But not so fast. If we are serious about living as Jesus lived (1 John 2:6), living in a way that pleases Him, then we aren’t free either. We also are slaves, but slaves of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:22; 1 Corinthians 7:22). Our so-called freedom is within the confines of His Law. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s the one and only way that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13–14; John 14:6).
Freedom, as the world speaks of it, is a myth and an illusion. The actual truth is you are free to choose to be a slave of Christ or a slave of Satan, but that’s where your freedom ends. A slave of the Devil will experience some momentary pleasures in this life but will receive the “reward” of eternal punishment and separation from their Creator (Romans 6:20–21; 2 Thessalonians 1:5–9). A slave of Jesus will have trouble in this life (John 16:33) but will receive the reward of eternal joy, peace, comfort, and security in the presence and fellowship of their Lord and Savior (Revelation 21:3–4; Psalm 16:11).
All freedom comes at a price. You will pay the price with your soul or accept Jesus’s payment for your salvation (1 Peter 1:18–19; Hebrews 9:27-28). We spend all of life serving one of two masters (Matthew 6:24), so we are never free as the world defines freedom. True freedom comes only in submission to Jesus as the Lord of your life (Romans 10:9; Luke 6:46). There is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12), and there is no other source of freedom. Everything else is a lie and futile to pursue. Don’t waste your breath, energy, and life on claiming freedom in this world (Ecclesiastes 1:14). It’s a temporary blessing with no eternal reward. Spend your life seeking only to live under the authority of Jesus Christ, our eternal King, Lord, and Savior (Colossians 1:13–18).