If All The Best Things In Your Life Are Free, Then Why Aren’t You?
While returning home, I had time to reflect on being in the Middle East and realized how the Lord predestined me to go on that trip, with those people, at that time. I was able to share the gospel in a way that I can tell people have never heard before. Guided by the Holy Spirit, I was able to share the truth of Jesus Christ and the desire of our God to have a relationship with His people. Through this experience, I realized how much Jesus and Him alone defines us as believers.
Let's look at Revelation 12:1-6
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
In John’s vision, he saw a dragon trying to devour the child of a pregnant woman who was set to give birth. The dragon represents the adversary, the devil with the child being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary as the pregnant woman.
The adversary hates Jesus; cannot stand Him. Jesus came with a purpose. He was the Word of God put in flesh who came to dwell among us (John 1:1-5;14, Matthew 1:23). The enemy’s goal is to isolate people from the truth of who Jesus is (John 8:42-44). You see, when Jesus came, the enemy knew what was up. He knew that his time would be up and that Jesus was coming to take back the authority over both darkness and light (Revelation 1:18) and rightfully divide the two (Matthew 10:34-36). Jesus would provide us with the door to our Father which was previously shut due to sin (John 10:9, Mark 15:38-39). And one thing that I learned is that all world religions acknowledge Jesus; most see Jesus as a prophet, messenger, and things of the sort, but only one knows Him as God and the Messiah. And this fact allowed me to realize why the enemy must keep people from the truth of Jesus and it lies within one word.
FREEDOM.
We are only set free by one person and one person only: Jesus.
Galatians 5:1 says,
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Through Jesus is how we receive our freedom. Father God wanted a relationship with His creation who were bound to sin. Since the Lord is Righteous, He can not and will not be around sin (Psalm 5:4). The Bible tells us that Jesus, who was without sin, became sin for us so that we would be made righteous and free from the repercussions of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Not through anyone else but Him can we be saved and freed of our sin (Acts 4:10-12).
See what people fail to realize is that you are either bound to Christ or to this world. Paul reminds us that this world is evil and is being used by Satan to blind people's eyes to the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). The reasons why the enemy does not want us to recognize our only shot at being free lies within his mission in John 10:10 to steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy wants to steal your hope for a better future. The Lord promises us a better future and a life filled with hope when we follow the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28); which includes being free from sin (Romans 8:1-4). He wants to kill your joy! The Lord tells us to count it ALL JOY when we are tested as perseverance increases our faith (James 1:2-3). See I realized, so many people who were working towards salvation just up and left because something tragic happened in their life and they were upset at God for not giving them the outcome they desired. In those situations, they forgot the JOY that Jesus provides us through any circumstance (John 16:20-22). The Lord reminds us that we receive the power of prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16) to withstand any worrying, anxiety, or depression (Phillipians 4:6-7). Lastly, He wants to destroy your soul. See the wages of sin is death, and the ultimate sacrifice for our sins was accomplished on the cross. Jesus defeated death so that we would no longer be subjected to the penalty sin beared (John 8:34-36). The enemy knows that through no other way can you receive forgiveness for your sins (John 14:6).
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive the gift of Jesus Christ to the fullest extent. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus is the only way we can move freely and confidently in this evil world.
If you are ready to break the shackles off and receive the freedom that Jesus Christ freely gives, say the following prayer with me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You for opening my eyes to the freedom that we have when we are in Christ Jesus. I thank You for Your grace that is sufficient in my weakness. I ask for forgiveness for submitting to the powers of this world and being bound to things that did not lead me to You. Please send Your Spirit to guide me and usher me into the truth of your gospel and the promises You have for me. I receive the coming of Jesus Christ to give us life and to have it more abundantly and I bind any spirits of bondage, confusion, error, anxiety, worry, and depression in Jesus name and pray that You send them back to the dry places.
In Jesus Name,
Amen