Freedom
Jonathan, my husband, and I recently were able to go to Prague for a city break. I can verify that it is a beautiful city with many architecturally stunning buildings. The traditional food was delicious, however we discovered that their mainly meat and high sodium diet is one of the worst in Europe, so just as well we were only there for a few days!
Being married to an historian meant that museums were on the agenda too, surprisingly a visit to The Museum of Communism turned out to be some of the most poignant hours of our trip. Not being an historian myself, I have never really considered the impact that a communist takeover could have on a society or its impact on ordinary people.
I won’t spoil the experience for anyone who might go in the future, but the overwhelming message to me was that the people of the Czechoslovakia lived lives of such control, restrictions and poverty. Limitations were put on their freedoms, access to consumer goods as well as their access to education, religion and movement between countries.
The Czechs lived with these restrictions for decades, something that is very difficult for me to comprehend. The ending of communism in the country in 1989 is a significant moment in their history and the beginning of a life of much greater freedom.
Throughout the week I was reading Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians where he is teaching them about freedom through the differences between the old and new covenant. The promises of the covenant given to Moses pointed to Jesus. This new covenant changes people’s hearts and makes them right with God.
2 Corinthians 3 v 16-18
16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
I realised in the museum in Prague how much I take my freedom for granted, the choices I can make day to day are not restricted by a regime. However, when I consider the freedom I have in Christ, this is when my heart rejoices. Freedom in Christ means a number of things:
· Freedom from sin and spiritual death.
· Freedom from the penalty of sin (guilt), the power of sin and the burden of trying to earn salvation through the law.
· Freedom is the ability to become who God created you to be, resulting in an "abundant life".
· Freedom is meant for loving God and loving others, not for self-indulgence.
· Freedom enables us to take back what the enemy has robbed from us.
Galations 5v1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Our spiritual freedom is freely available to us because Jesus bought it at a price. How many of us would say that we are living in the freedom that Christ gives to us, free from the guilt of sin, free to love God and others, free from the hold the enemy has had on us and free from the law of the old covenant, working for our salvation rather that allowing God’s grace to be a reality for us.
I would encourage you to reflect on your own life and ask the Holy Spirit to perhaps reveal an area of your life where you want there to be more freedom. Unlike the people in Eastern Europe who had to wait decades for their freedom from communism, we can live in spiritual freedom everyday.