Freedom

Did you know, when Jesus said "it is finished," on the cross that He really meant it? (John 19:30)  .. Meant what? How about everything. That's what.

Jesus said that He was sent into the world not to condemn it, but rather to save it (or the people in it - John 3:17). So what do you think he meant by "save?" That I don't have to go to hell? Yes. That my life will be a lot easier after coming to Christ? Well, not exactly.

What about the fact that Jesus gave us HIS peace. WHAT? God gave me His peace? What does that mean for me?! That my peace, now, literally is not of or comes from this world. Well, why does it seem like the world is everything but at peace? Well not everyone believes, has experienced, or even knows that this kind of peace exists!

Now, why are we talking about peace, I thought this was about freedom? Exactly. How can you experience freedom without peace or have peace without freedom.

A lot of the terms I am using here are spilling over from spiritual to physical - so for some it may be difficult to grasp - at first.

Hebrews refers to this.

'So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.' Hebrews 4:11

Or as some versions have it "strive to enter the rest." Now how would I strive in order to rest, that seems counterproductive? Exactly.

Remember when I said the spiritual is spilling into the physical? That's it.

As a human being we are mind, body, soul, and spirit. You may have heard this before. Our spirit is the part of us that God redeems once we are saved. The rest is our job, and that is what that scripture is referring to. Whether prayer, worship, or just utter denial of what we've perceived as "correct" for a very long time - in exchange for God's peace and/or perception of our lives.

Woah, denial?! Check out the section on "Understanding," on the homepage, I go into this concept a bit. But essentially, we must get to the place where we are able to "hand over," our experiences, feelings, thoughts, and intentions to God in exchange for His experiences, feelings, thoughts, and intentions.

And then we can operate and experience the tangible presence of the "Prince of Peace," (Jesus) in our everyday lives. Which is truly the meaning and embodiment of - ultimate freedom.

What do you say?