Standing in Freedom

It’s beginning to look like people have had enough. They are beginning to put freedom above safety once again. Safety over freedom is always an illusion anyway. The question is what must we do to successfully restore our freedom? How do we go about it?

First, we’ll quickly look at freedom itself. Then use scripture and our history to draw some lessons. It’s not complicated, but we’ve forgotten much. And there is one item, that if missed, will cause us to fail.

What is Freedom?

Let’s begin with what freedom is not. It is not license to do whatever one wants. That is the illusion of freedom offered by Satan. One satisfied by substituting our appetites for morality. Real freedom is the absence of coercion—to the extent feasible within an organized society.[1] Freedom supports our ability to take voluntary actions.

This definition makes perfect sense because of how we were made. We each received the gift of free will. And substantial natural rights that are negative in nature, meaning they tell us what we are not to do. These rights direct us to refrain from doing evil. They are few, direct, and powerful. Effectively exercising our rights requires morality and discernment.

Morality has but one source—God. Man often tries to create his own morality, but he fails as he is insufficient to the task. There is no objectivity with man’s morality. We learn discernment when making mistakes in exercising our freedom. By learning along the way. We’ve seen firsthand government exercising coercion over the last two years. Making decrees derived from a false morality. Hopefully we’ve learned from this mistake. I pray so.

Scriptural Basis

Every one of us has faith. God made us that way as well. We either choose to put that faith in God or man. If we do not choose God, then we will make our own idols and these will become our gods. In essence, without God we try to become our own creator and make our own religion. We see this in the book of Acts.

(All the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their spare time talking or hearing about the latest intellectual fads.)

Sha’ul (Paul) stood up in the Council meeting and said, “Men of Athens: I see how very religious you are in every way! For as I was walking around, looking at your shrines, I even found an altar which had been inscribed, ‘To An Unknown God.’ So, the one whom you are already worshipping in ignorance — this is the one I proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:21-3)

Who is God?

Paul declares God to the men of Athens.

“The God who made the universe and everything in it, and who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in man-made temples; nor is he served by human hands, as if he lacked something; since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

‘From one man he made every nation living on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the limits of their territories and the periods when they would flourish.” (Acts 17:24-6)

Implications

We were created in such a way that we would look for God, and come to understand who we are and who He Is.

“God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us, ‘for in him we live and move and exist.’ Indeed, as some of the poets among you have said, ‘We are actually his children.’ So, since we are children of God, we shouldn’t suppose that God’s essence resembles gold, silver or stone shaped by human technique and imagination.” (Acts 17:27-9)

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God wants us to look for Him. He alone is God. Our idols are meaningless. He ends with one final implication. God expects us to look for Him. He’s provided us evidence that could only come from Him.

“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance; but now he is commanding all people everywhere to turn to him from their sins. For he has set a Day when he will judge the inhabited world, and do it justly, by means of a man whom he has designated. And he has given public proof of it by resurrecting this man from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-1)

Freedom Requires Return

All things come from God. The things remaining hidden belong to Him. Those God’s revealed belong to us forever. When we see both the blessings and the curses, we will begin to understand and return to God. We will give Him our heart. (Deut. 29:29-30:2)

We return to God through humbling ourselves, prayer, seeking Him, and turning away from evil. God’s promised us several things when we return to Him. He will; hear us, forgive us, and heal our land. (2 Chron. 7:12-4) When we stand in God’s covenant with us, He fulfills His word. We’ll realize His blessing inherent in our freedom. And that is what God wants for each one of us. So how does this all tie into today’s events?

Today’s Events

Whenever tyranny seeks to raise its head, there is an event which sparks man’s desire for freedom. It can be anything. Mothers and fathers defending their children. A child rightfully standing up against a tyrannical school board. A group of truckers and citizens driving across a country in peaceful protest, demanding their government be dissolved, new elections held, and freedom restored.

These events all share a common trait. They demonstrate discerning evil, and taking a stand against it. With that alone, we can end tyranny—but only for a while. Another will soon replace it. If we just stop here, we won’t complete the steps God requires from us. We further need to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His will for us. These require us having a relationship with God.

There is evidence that change is beginning to happen. I’ve seen videos the last several days of people coming out and singing hymns in Ottawa. Churches and people coming out to pray together. The trucker’s convoy providing food for anyone in need, and performing other acts of service. And all those sending food and other items to the truckers. All the notes coming from children thanking those standing in Ottawa. It is the beginning of the spirit necessary for true change to occur. Lasting change restoring our real freedom.

Truckers are organizing a convoy in America. Word today is the bikers also want to join in the stand for freedom. Information about the upcoming event, and ways you can help or participate is at https://t.me/TruckersForFreedomGlobal. When we do the things God’s asked; He will hear us, forgive us, and heal our land. That’s the gift I wish to leave my children and grandchildren. Both freedom and its source.

A History Lesson

We see this pattern in America’s founding. Without our early settlers following this pattern, it is unlikely America would ever have existed. We can see the commitment in our founding, and the events from our society’s turning away.

Commitment

John Winthrop and company wrote the Mayflower Compact in 1620, as the Mayflower approached what would become Massachusetts Bay. Toward its end, the document states God would dwell among us and bless us. We’d come to see more wisdom, power, goodness, and truth than we’d ever known before. And God would shield us from our enemies.

We’d become the city on a hill in Matt. 5:14. But only if we continued to stay true to the work we’ve begun. If we dealt falsely with God, our falseness would cause Him to withdraw His help from us. America would become a story, and its enemies would speak evil of God and those professing His name.[2] What do we see today?

These words were both prophetic and became America’s covenant with God. Winthrop had an island where he would go to pray in the Bay. It became known as Governor’s Island.

George Washington and Congress consecrated this promise on the nation’s first day. On 4/30/1789, these men proceeded from Washington’s inauguration to St. Paul’s Chapel on Broadway in New York City. It was our first capital. There they prayed and dedicated the new nation to God in its first act.

Falling Away

America fell away throughout the 20th century. Increasing reliance on government, removing the Bible and prayer from school, the sexual revolution, abortion, transgenderism, critical theory, and such are evidence of our society’s falling away. With that falling away, Winthrop’s words began to come true. We lost God’s protection.

America’s blessings included its economy, built upon trade and the people’s creativity. Another was its military power which helped secure the peace. These were shaken on 9/11/2001. The World Trade Center was destroyed; a symbol of America’s economic strength. Miraculously, a small church resting in its shadow was spared destruction—the same St. Paul’s Chapel where Washington and Congress first prayed.

The Pentagon was also shaken in the same attack. And on the same day ground was broken for its construction—9/11/1941. Finally, the flights used for the attacks came from Logan Int’l Airport in Boston. Governor’s Island became part of the airport when built in 1946.[3]

We have before us a blessing and a curse. To realize our freedom again requires returning to God. It’s not too late, and we are seeing evidence of that happening again. He who has ears, let him hear. I wish you God’s Peace and Blessings.