FREEDOM

          While campaigning in Riga, Latvia, I have talked with people who don’t think very highly of the United States of America. Believe it or not, most people in this world have been fed a steady diet of propaganda about the USA to where their conception is as distorted as looking through a broken mirror. The people in Riga did not even know about Pearl Harbor, all they were taught in school was that the bad Americans dropped the bomb on Japan. They also find us weak in that we have only been around for such a short time. Considering that Riga has been around since the 1200’s, that would make us relatively new on the scene. According to them, we haven’t paid our dues. It does seem that the more I talked to them about America, the more it appeared to be jealousy.

            We are so blessed in this country with something that is called FREEDOM. It did not come free. A huge price was paid, and continues to be paid for this freedom. We have freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion, along with other freedoms. These freedoms have allowed us to use our minds and abilities to help make this nation prosperous. I would be the first to say that I don’t approve of everything that is done in the name of freedom, but I’m certainly thankful that we have freedom.

            Especially I am thankful for SPIRITUAL FREEDOM. Jesus took the form of a servant and came to this world to liberate mankind from the enslavement of sin. He gave His blood and shed His blood on the Cross in order that sinful humanity could be freed from sin’s bondage (John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”) 

            On this Thanksgiving Day, let us express gratitude to God that we live in a free country. Of greater significance, may God’s people never forget that we are FREE IN CHRIST.

                        “For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not

                        entangled again in a yoke of bondage…For ye, brethren, were called

                        for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh,

                        but through love be servants one to another” (Gal. 5:1 and 5:13).