About Freedom

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

Freedom! What a wonderful feeling! Who does not want to be free? Many nations in the world celebrate the day in which they were set free from the yoke of a foreign power by the hands of some hero or martyr. But many of these countries, later on, fall under the oppression of a dictator, a national leader who imposes his will upon the population.

There is still much oppression in this world, even though we may boast of having pulled down some barriers, such us the Apartheid that discriminated against the black in South Africa, or the dowry that put a price to a partner, allowing a woman to be bought for a few cows, as it is still the case in Africa, or it was until not so long ago the case in some Mediterranean countries in which it was “bad luck” for parents to have only girls, since in order to marry them off they had to have land, houses, or some kind of a possession, otherwise the girls remained single and were a burden to their father. All these laws may not exist any more, but their principles have remained as prejudices in the mentality of man.

It is thus that many women in the most civilized countries have united in a liberation movement to fight for their rights and some have become real man-haters.

Although we were all set free through the precious sacrifice of our Saviour, the greatest Martyr of all times, although we could all celebrate an independence day, when we were declared free from a foreign power–the day of our baptism, we still suffer under the pressure of a local dictator – our ego, and the prejudices of an obsolete law–the law of the flesh.

But the word of God tells us, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Indeed, really, absolutely. There are two famous statues in this world, one is to be found in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and it is a huge statue of Christ standing on a hill overlooking the city and inviting it to repentance and the other one is the not less well-known statue of Liberty, in New York. Both of them are hollow and one can climb to the top up an inbuilt staircase.
It is interesting that the closer one comes to the top, the narrower the place is and one has the feeling of getting out of breath for lack of enough oxygen. Many people turn back because they cannot bear this feeling.

We, as Christians, are expected to reach the height of Jesus’ character, to walk on a narrow path, to die to self. It is only by doing this that we shall reach our goal, “…narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. To be free, contrary to what man usually thinks, consists not of allowing oneself everything, but to be able to dispense with everything.

The Bible speaks of a man who had a great growth, he was a head taller than his fellowmen and he was chosen as a king. But Saul exalted himself above his fellowmen and was not accepted by God. The Bible also speaks of a huge statue that was built by a very proud king to perpetuate his kingdom. He had seen many wonders, had acknowledged God’s power, but since his ego was occupying the throne of his heart, he was ready to annul God’s prophecy revealed to him in an act of great mercy. Through God’s infinite grace, Nebuchadnezzar was forgiven and he acknowledged, “those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37.

There is hope for everyone.
Each statue that we may build for the preservation of our ego will not be able to stand in the presence of a holy God. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought to the temple of Dagon, the god of the Philistines, the statue fell down and was broken.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” To be free in Christ means not to worship any idol, but to surrender our will to His and to climb the ladder that begins with faith and ends with love. If we do not look back, we shall have no vertigo.

We may have gone all around the world, seen many statues and climbed many towers, but real freedom can be obtained only at the feet of the cross where our sinful nature was crucified. May the Lord help up not to fear the heights.
AMEN

Teresa Corti