By Andrea Guachalla
Years before I became a Christian I became obsessed with the idea of “finding freedom”. For some reason or another I felt the need to make my purposeless life about more than just succeeding academically. I wanted my life to be about something bigger than myself, about a bigger purpose, and that bigger (and more secular) purpose turned into a search for freedom. What that meant or how to find it, I didn’t know, but I was determined to fulfill it in my lifetime.
Over time, my vain reasoning evolved and digressed, but by the end of it I was able to at least articulate what I meant by “finding freedom”: finding the place where I belonged, a place where I could be myself without anyone judging me.
I explained that idea to some people back in the day. The concept was well received. Going on a life-long search for the place where I was destined to live, and belong, a place where I could be myself unapologetically seemed to be a purpose worth pursuing. It sounded philosophical even. But that’s all it was… Another human being voicing their lack of real purpose by romanticizing an idea as meaningless as their godless life.
I honestly believe the only reason my idea of searching for freedom was well received was because it echoed the void others had in their own lives. Perhaps not then, but later on I realized everyone is looking for freedom, or happiness, or a bigger purpose. The thing is… They are looking in all the wrong places, the same way I was.
Where the world tells us to search for freedom
We search for lasting joy in success, recognition, and fame. We let our lives be about things like “searching for freedom” without knowing what freedom even is. Social media bombards us with the idea that we ought to free ourselves from relationships that don’t condone our mundane way of life, we are prompted to “live our truth”, and love ourselves more than we love others. We are presented with the idea that traveling across the globe, and not having to work at all is somehow more desirable and fulfilling than having the responsibility to care for a family.
All lies of the worst kind…
Like me, many of you have been trying to find freedom and lasting joy in material things or circumstances without knowing what being free means. We ignore the Creator of all things who has made us with a purpose and try to look for one on our own. And that is why we cannot find freedom, because we don’t even know what it looks like, or what it is. The world ignores the fact that before we find freedom we ought to, first, humble ourselves, understand how lowly and sinful we are in the eyes of God, and see what Christ, the Son of God, has done for those who believe in Him.
Where freedom is truly found
True freedom is not found in a place where you can be yourself, or in relationships that tolerate or celebrate your sin, but is found in Christ and being completely changed by Him. Outside of Christ we can only be slaves to sin, that is our truest self (John 8:34). However, in Christ we are freed from sin, we are free to glorify the almighty God who gave His only Son in sacrifice in order to give us the salvation and eternal life we didn’t deserve. Repenting from our sin, and turning from it to believe in Jesus Christ should be what we are after in life. Going after what the world says will make us happy will only lead us to keep living a meaningless life.
There are those who believe living a life for God is boring, because it means leaving behind all the things that are “fun”. Partying on the weekends, bouncing from one relationship to another, using others for one’s own pleasure, living a selfish life that focuses on one’s own well-being and ignoring others’. That is what is “fun” in our time and age, that is what is considered good, to not associate with those in need, or those who we don’t like, to unfriend those who question our sinful way of life.
It is no surprise that in a world where “self-care” and living “one’s own truth” are idolized, God’s commandments will be seen as the most oppressive set of rules of all, and God Himself will be seen as the most tyrannical being. But, oh, how blind people are!
We are all either slaves to sin, or slaves to God!
You can either be a slave to sin, or a slave to the holy God. There is no middle ground. The big difference between the two of those types of “slavery” is that while slaves to sin will be condemned eternally if they don’t repent and believe in Christ, those who are slaves to God can and do find true freedom in Christ. Slaves to sin can only be free to keep sining, slaves to God are free to glorify the holy God, Creator of all things.
Yes, it might sound like living an unbridled life with no rules, and no commitments is freedom, but that only makes you more of a slave to sin and condemnation. True freedom can only be enjoyed within the limits of God’s commandments because HE KNOWS WHAT IS GOOD. Being free is committing our lives to God, understanding more of what He commands, and how we fall short in fulfilling His commandments. Being free is seeing Christ, who not only died for us, but lived a perfect life in our place.
The ultimate source of freedom: CHRIST
You don’t need to go on a life-long search for freedom, traveling across the globe, or trying to find a group of people that condones your way of life. You need Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Only abiding in God’s Word and His truth can set man free (John 8:34).
YOU NEED CHRIST.
Because only if the Son sets you free you can be free indeed (John 8:36).
