Eternal Perspective

Eternal Perspective

Now that your vision has been broadened I want it to be extended. Though I don't like assigning a single word to an experience, freedom has been a theme on this trip. In each place we stay our hosts say to us "be free." What does this mean, how are we to be free? In Africa this is what freedom looks like to me. It means not having to take chai tea when it is offered. It means not having to eat the foot tall pile of rice on your plate. It means being able to pray for sick people and undesirables. Not drinking some tea might not seem like a big deal to you, but when the tea is half goat milk fresh from the goat and half water that may or may not have been boiled it matters a little more.

My goal in this blog is to free you. I think freedom is one of the most misunderstood things in Christianity. You might say that you're an a citizen of the U.S.A. the most free country in the world, but I tell you that you might still be a slave. You are a slave to the lustful thoughts in your head that you can't seem to control no matter how hard you try. You are a slave to your job that you cannot quit because it is how you provide for your family and it is what you define yourself as. You are a slave to other people's expectations. You are a slave because every time you pray you must fold your hands and close your eyes and be silent. Let me tell you now that Christ already has, or is able to set you free.

The key to freedom is perspective. If you are a Christian Christ has already set you free, but your perspective might hinder you from experiencing this freedom. This is what I mean. Christ has already died for your sins, once and for all. This means every sin you have committed, are committing, and that you will commit. Christ has already paid for you, and he has finished his work. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less. There is nothing you can do to earn your salvation or God's approval. You are weak and powerless, take comfort in this! God's strength in your weakness is what brings you freedom. If there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, then there is no longer any point in subjecting yourself to the rules that people say God wants you to follow. If you cannot bring about your own salvation then you no longer need to strive so incredibly hard to bring about your friend's salvation. Instead of looking at your own strength look at God's! Don't work yourself to death because you are afraid of your boss, in Luke 12 it says "do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more…fear him who, after your body has been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell." These people you subject yourself to, they cannot even kill you and yet you fear them. Fear God instead, he holds your soul in the palm of your hand and he loves you more than anyone ever could. Subject yourself to God and his will, he wants you to succeed and he has the best planned for you. Be free in your mind. Don't feel like you have to meet other people's expectations, do not feel obligated to them. Christ Jesus died for you and he holds you under no obligation, so don't feel obligated to other humans. God created the universe, he is powerful enough to take care of you here on Earth. His grace is enough to cover up any missteps you might make.

Also be free in your body. In Colossians 2 it says, "Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules? Do not handle, do not touch, do not taste!" Read the rest of it, it's awesome, also Galatians 5. Drinking alcohol is not a sin! Opening your eyes during prayer is not a sin! Throwing your bible on the floor is not a sin! These kinds of rules require great physical restraint, but they do not bring about spiritual growth. So be free.

Now, freedom must be tempered with love. The bible says not to cause your brother to stumble. If your friend is an alcoholic, do not drink in front of them. Paul said that he was all things to all people. When he was with Jews he acted as a Jew, when he was with gentiles he acted as a gentile. Be free but be sensitive to other people's perspectives, because theirs might not be as broad as yours. The title is eternal perspective so I guess I should explain what that means. It means look at things in terms of eternity. If you smoke a cigarette will it damn you to hell? No. If you make millions of dollars here can you take them with you to Heaven? No. Store up your treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is your heart will be also. Build other people up, follow the will of God and you will be storing your treasures in heaven.

So in line with my last blog, widen your vision and extend it. Try out your freedom in Christ. Stop beating yourself up for your sin, it is already forgiven. Show God's love to the person that you are afraid might reject you. Do God's will in spite of human regulations and expectations, but always be free in love. So please, brothers and sisters, be free. Remember that God is powerful enough to fix any mistakes you make. He can mend hurt feelings, repair broken relationships, and build other people up through your bungled attempts at encouragement. Find freedom and peace in God's power and love.