Today our nation celebrates the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. This freedom we enjoy has not come without cost. Tens of thousands of men have shed their blood so that you and I can have the privilege of living as we please without fear. Liberty from tyranny and oppression always comes at a high cost. Not only have tens of thousands of men given their lives for our liberty, but tens of thousands of mothers, fathers, wives, sons, and daughters have sacrificed the lives of their loved ones so that we can enjoy this blessing.
The liberty that we enjoy, as a nation, is only a faint echo of the spiritual liberty that is possessed in the kingdom of priests, whose freedom has been bought by the King. As with our national freedom, our spiritual freedom has come at a great price. Our freedom has not been purchased with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pt. 1:18). Peter tells us that the most incorruptible, precious, and valuable items on earth are worthless compared to the sacrifice that the Son of God offered to His Father on the behalf of our sins. How can one estimate the value of God's most precious commodity – the life of, and fellowship with His Son?
If the price of our freedom cost the most valuable possession that God had, then how horrific must our bondage been? The price paid on Calvary illustrates gravity of the crime of our sin against an infinitely holy God. It is on the cross that we behold the wrath of God poured out on our sin, which was borne by our Saviour.
This precious price has purchased, not only our freedom from the curse of sin, but our freedom to be in the presence of God without incurring His wrath. Maybe you've never wondered why the proud eagle is the symbol of American liberty. In His redemption of His national children from Egyptian bondage (clearly a projecting forth of His redemption of His spiritual children from sin's bondage), The Lord said: "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles wings, and brought you unto myself" (Ex. 19:4). What great lengths our Father has gone to, in order to have us for His own treasure!
As we reflect, with thanksgiving, on the great price that has been paid for our nation's liberty; let our hearts be drawn to worship the King that paid the penalty for our sin, that we might enjoy being free in Him forever.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (Jn. 8:36).
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