Freedom is not always free

Freedom isn’t free. Throughout history the cost of freedom has been in human lives. The people of Ukraine have been fighting to maintain their freedom, and the cost has been high. Ukrainian refugees number about thirteen million. The Ukrainian military says they lose 100 to 200 soldiers a day. In addition to that approximately 600 to 1,000 of their countrymen are injured every day. And the aggressive Russian army losses are estimated to be about 75,000. The cost of freedom is high.
We cherish freedom in this country. The slogan “We live in the land of the free because of the brave.” is true. We owe a great deal to these brave people who have guarded our freedom. But do we actually live in the land of the free? Are we not required to pay taxes on pretty much everything we own or use? Are we not restricted from driving in a reckless manner? Must our children have to have a minimum education? Who of us enjoys paying taxes, etc.? You get the point, we are not totally free. So what did the Apostle Paul mean when he wrote “It was for freedom that Christ set us free - -” (Galatians 5:1), or what truth is found in Jesus’ words,  “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) 
Dr. Roy Honeycut, my Old Testament professor, wrote a book entitled “These Ten Words”. In that book he lists the Ten Commandments in two categories. The first four Commandments say that God has rights, and the remaining six say that others have rights, too. Our keeping these Commandments pleases God and promotes peace and freedom for others. But keeping them has a cost.

We have to do things His way, not ours. It means we must love God and our neighbor. And doing things His way means we live in peace and freedom with Him. It’s kind of like driving under the speed limit when you see a policeman, or having your heating fuel laid up for the winter, or having all your taxes paid. 
We all want to be free. Free to live our lives as we want. We’re willing to pay the price for that freedom, even if that cost is a leg lost or even the life of a loved one. It’s unlikely that the cost of spiritual freedom would be a leg, or a life. And we may not want to pay the cost for spiritual freedom because of our anger, or lust, or coveting.
Do you have something that prevents you from paying the cost for spiritual freedom? Physical freedom ends when our physical life ends. Spiritual freedom is for eternity. It is worth the cost, regardless what that cost may be.
Rev. Gerold McBride is pastor of Lithium Baptist Church in Perry County. He may be reached by email at geroldmcbride@gmail.com or by phone at 573-547-8954.