A Message of True Freedom (06/19/'24)

A Message of True Freedom Dear Friends, In the quiet recesses of our hearts, we often find ourselves enslaved to the immediate, forgetting our conscience. This subtle enslavement is masked by the urgency of fleeting desires and the constant demands of the present. Here, the chains are invisible but tightly bound, each link forged from the whims of the moment. Slavery, though often thought to be a distant concept, thrives in the dark corners of a bad conscience. We might believe we are free, yet we are trapped, not by physical bars, but by the illusions and delusions that cloud our minds. True freedom becomes a mere mirage, and life turns into a shadow play, devoid of substance. However, there is a path to liberation—a way to unshackle the soul. Life, in its essence, is freedom found in a good conscience, where the soul is unburdened and guilt and shame no longer weigh heavy on the heart. To achieve this, we must be acutely aware of the subtle chains of fear—fear of pain and fear of death. It is this fear that marks the beginning of true slavery. We must strive not to be slaves to our own minds, possessions, habits, addictions, or the lingering shadows of the past. These are the unseen chains that bind our spirits, the silent captors of our souls. In Christ, there is a freedom that transcends all earthly bonds. DEATH INTO CHRIST IS FREEDOM—a profound liberation that breaks every chain. This freedom is far greater than any semblance of liberty the world can offer. The scriptures echo this truth, from Romans to Galatians, Corinthians to Hebrews, John to Luke, and Matthew. In Christ, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light. He came to set us free, to liberate us from the chains that bind our spirits. His promise of eternal liberty is an invitation to shed the unseen chains and embrace a life renewed. In His light, we find our true freedom, unbound and eternal. Blessings, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 19, 2024)