Freedom is something for which every human being yearns, but ironically we don’t become truly free by chasing after freedom. Our lack of freedom now is because we are separated, because of our sin, from God, the source of all freedom. Because this has happened, God, who loves us so much, sent his Son, Jesus, into the world. In Jesus, the infinite God of the universe voluntarily narrowed up his freedom and became a human being just like you and me in every way, except he did not sin. And he did that to rescue us from our bondage to sin, death, and the devil, and to bring us into the freedom that he has for us. Jesus took our place and suffered the consequences for a sinful life like ours, so he could give us all of the freedom, all the rights and privileges, that he has as a beloved child of God.
This is what love does. Love voluntarily restricts its own freedom for the good of others. Because of Jesus’ love, our freedom is not measured by what we can say or do in this world. The freedom that we have in Jesus Christ is measured by what God can do in this world, and in the heavenly realms, both now and forever. That’s the kind of freedom you have with Jesus. We have freedom from any consequences before God for our sin. We have freedom from being concerned for ourselves because God’s caring for us. We have freedom from being worried about the future because we know in the end, Jesus is going to restore and renew all things, including us. Because of Jesus, we are free in a way like we’ve never been before.
So then there is the question of “What is our freedom for?” The default human answer is “Me.” My freedom is for me. But Jesus is calling us to use our freedom for a cause that is much, much greater than ourselves. He’s inviting us to join him on his mission of seeking and saving all that is lost. He is calling us to be partners with him, and with each other, in growing the kingdom of God by sharing his love with those around us.
Yes, we have true freedom in Jesus, but it is possible that someone could leave the Kingdom of God because of the way that we exercise our freedom. Therefore, when we become aware that something like that could happen, we voluntarily restrict our own freedom for the sake of the other person’s conscience.
The point that Paul is trying to make is that the main thing in life is not about not how much freedom we have, but what kind of a person do we want to be? Do we want to be a person who emulates the love of Jesus Christ and lays down our life before him so that we can decrease and he can increase in our lives? When addresses the challenges in the Church in Corinth, Paul did not create a rule that God did not make in order to try and resolve the situation. When I was on my vicarage, my supervising pastor, Pastor Mark Lobitz, told me that whenever we make hard rules all we do is create hard situations and hypocrites. Paul leaves the tension unresolved and he encourages us to let God’s love guide us through life’s dilemmas. He writes, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1)
In November of 1878, diphtheria, which is very contagious, raged through the household of Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria. On November the 15th, of 1878. Princess Alice’s daughter, Maria died. Alice chose not tell the rest of her children because she didn’t want them to be upset as they were fighting the disease. Keep in mind that back then they didn’t have the medicines and treatments that we have today and Alice wanted her children o be as strong as they could be as they fought the disease.
Finally, around the beginning of December, she decided she would tell her son, Ernest. When she did, he was totally heartbroken, distraught, and grief stricken, something which she did not anticipate. In an effort to calm her son, Alice broke the rule of not having any physical contact with those who are sick and she gave him a kiss. For a few days, she wasn’t ill. But eventually, Alice became ill with diphtheria and died on December the 14th 1878.
You see, true love forgets itself. The freedom that Jesus has given us is the freedom to forget about ourselves because he’s got us and we are then able to love others more freely than we ever could before.
And so the challenge that I’m leaving with you today is this: To immerse yourself in Jesus’ love, forget about yourself and love others in the perfect freedom that Jesus has given to you.
Farewell to Shadowlands 