I will always remember walking by the Korean War Memorial a few years ago and reading the inscription, “Freedom is not free.” Being free doesn’t just happen; freedom must be fought for and protected. Someone or something is always nearby to seize control and exercise some form of tyranny.
We need to be thankful for those before us who fought and sacrificed themselves so that we could be free. May God help us to protect the freedoms we have for future generations.
Despite the challenges in our culture, we are still free. We are free to be who we want to be; free to make our own choices; free to worship however we want; free to be wise or foolish; free to care for others or isolate. We are the home of the brave because we are free!
In the same way, we celebrate even more so because of the freedom we have found in Jesus Christ. Freedom in Christ is not free. He paid the price for our freedom. He fought for us and died on a cross to free us from our sins and self-centeredness. He rose from the dead and reigns on our behalf. We can have a real relationship with Almighty God!
Freedom is not the removal of responsibility but the power to overcome and be authentic. We live in the greatest country and have available to us the love and power of Christ. Now we can be free to become who God created us to be – His children who love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, all in service of the Most High!
