John 8, 31 – 32: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of the word freedom is: “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants.”
What a beautiful thing freedom is, and for us to obtain it, all we need to do, Jesus says, is to abide in His word. As simple as that.
Matthew 22, 34 – 40 The Greatest Commandment
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The truth shall set us free.
So what is stopping us? Do we really want freedom?
I don’t think so and let me tell you why.
People want freedom, but freedom comes with accountability. People don’t want to be accountable or responsible for how they act or for what they say, and they definitely don’t want to think for themselves.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
How could you love something or someone if you don’t even have an image of that thing or person?
How do you think you would be able to love God if you don’t even take five minutes to form an image for yourself about the Force that created the universe out of Himself?
Religion, parents, friends, and society keep telling you what God is. But what do you tell yourself? What is He to you?
Is He an old man on a cloud? Is He Wisdom? Is He Life? Is He Love? Is He close? Is He distant? What is He to you?
Well, my friend, if you don’t take the time to give yourself an answer to all these questions, then you will never know God, and you will never be able to love Him. And according to Jesus, you will never know the truth, and you will never be free.
At least you won’t have to be accountable for anything, right? The government, your parents, your family, your neighbors, your spouse, humanity, the planet. Right? Everything wrong that ever happened to you is someone else’s fault. Right?
Wrong!
You don’t want freedom. Stop lying to yourself. You just want to fall in line. You want to be understood and appreciated, and liked by everybody. You just want to be happy and praised by everyone. Right?
Stop asking for freedom because you don’t have the discipline and the courage to go get it. You don’t want to read one more book. You don’t want to be an example for those around you. You don’t want to be focused and persistent for years without seeing any results. You don’t want to stand out. You don’t want to be the first one in your family to do something extraordinary. You don’t want to take the time to nourish a relationship with the One who created you and the whole universe. You don’t want to fall on your knees and pray with love and gratitude to the One who woke you up today and allowed you to walk on this beautiful planet.
You don’t want to do all that.
Or do you?
With love, yours truly, Cristian.