Guided by God to Freedom

By

Steve Thomas

July 20, 2009

The 4th of July is a day to celebrate America’s independence as a nation and freedoms that we have. We have so many to give thanks to for our freedoms in this world—those who have served in the military in our own congregation, in our families, friends, and the leaders of this country throughout history. We thank all who have made great sacrifices.

There are many accounts in history of how mankind has been guided by God to freedom and I want to discuss two of them. The first is the Pilgrims coming across the sea to reach the new world. The date was November 1620. The Pilgrims had been at sea for seven weeks. When they spotted land for the first time there was an overflow of thanksgiving as men, women, and children all poured out the gratitude of their hearts toward God, their Protector and Provider. There was some confusion on the ship as to where exactly they were. It was difficult to tell how far the storms had blown them off course. The Pilgrims discovered they were at a place fisherman called Cape Cod, which was only a few hundred miles north of their original destination, the Virginia Colony. They started south but soon encountered dangerous shoals, riptides, and roaring breakers as they tried to pass around the cape. The farther they went, the more treacherous it became. The Pilgrims began to fervently pray for the safety of their ship. The leader of the group sensed there was more than met they eye. The farther they went the greater their sense of dread was felt. They wondered if God really wanted them to go south to Virginia as originally planned. Perhaps they were blown off course because God had something better in mind for them.

The wind was very strong that time of year, and when they tried to sail south around the cape, it blew mightily against them. It was too dangerous to sail that close to the shore. At length, after much prayer and further discussion, the Pilgrims unanimously decided on their course of action. They would turn back toward Cape Cod. On November 11, they dropped anchor in a natural harbor on the inside of the cape. What a joyful celebration they had. “They fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean.”

A second account of God guiding mankind to freedom can be found in Genesis 12: 1-9. Abraham had left everything he knew because God told him to. He left Ur and went to Canaan where God told him he would give him everything and many blessings and to his offspring many blessings. This is a great example of faith in God and if we listen to what God is trying to tell us great things will come. Sometimes we need to let go and let God take control of our lives.

We are all people of destiny. Each of us has a God given purpose meant to accomplish great things. God has a plan for everyone and how we figure it out is up to us. We need to listen, watch, and pay attention to what God is trying to tell us and show us. God blessed us with two eyes, two ears, and one mouth so we listen and watch twice as much as we speak. How does God speak to you? Is it during worship or when you remember something? Is it while reading scripture and the words literally jump off the page at you and you realize how to apply it to your everyday life? The Bible explains how God speaks to us. Hebrews 1:1-2 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”

As Christians our Freedom in Christ comes from Godly sorrow, the regret we feel for hurting God, Repentance, an honest effort to change our sinful ways, our Confession of our faith in Jesus Christ, and Baptism, where our old self is buried with our sins and we rise washed and restored to a new life. The Bible talks about this freedom and why sin doesn’t offer it. Lamentations 1:14 “My sins have been bound into a yoke- by his hands they were woven together.” At first, sin seems to offer freedom, but soon we become captive to it. Freedom from sin’s captivity comes only from God. John 8:31-32 declares, To the Jews who had believed him Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is the source of truth—the perfect standard for what is right. He frees us from the consequences of sin and shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Finally, 1 Corinthians 8:10-13, teaches us what Christian freedom is all about. “For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idol’s? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When your sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” Christian freedom does not mean that anything goes. Christian freedom is inseparably tied to Christian responsibility. When we love others our freedom should be less important to us than strengthening the faith of a brother or sister in Christ. The goal is to get to heaven and take as many with us as we possibly can.

Be encouraged to enhance your sense of spirit. Listen and watch to what God is trying to tell you or what he is trying to show you. God wants to reach you. As for our freedoms we have in this world they have come at a great cost and are by no means free. And for our spiritual freedom in Christ—this is a gift from God and has come from the sacrifice of his only Son who was perfect in every way and was without sin.*

*Steven Thomas delivered this speech June 28, 2009 at the Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana.