True Freedom

Diversity and culture are truly wonderful things. We enjoy seeing over 200 countries parade in the opening ceremony of the Olympics. We enjoy all the variations of food and the incredible differences of languages. There are, however, some things that are universal in every culture no matter how far they are separated by language and geography. Death, for example, is universal, and the fact is there is no one who is exempt. Guilt and shame are universal and bring great suffering in all cultures. The Bible explains that sin is universal, and to date it would be extremely difficult to find a more logical explanation for the evil in the world than the one provided for us in the Bible about sin.

The truest form of freedom is the liberty experienced when one is free from guilt and shame and is prepared to die with a clean conscience. All the major religions of the world address the issue of death, but not all tell us the truth. How are we supposed to know the truth about sin and death? Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The freedom Jesus spoke about was the freedom of being set free from the burden of our sin and the fear of death. Jesus does both; he gives us freedom to live our lives without the weight of guilt and the gift of eternal life which removes our fear of death.

In an age of political correctness, diversity and culture are esteemed higher than truth. This is the lie of our age, that each culture has its own truth and that truth is equal to any other. The greatest confirmation of the truth of Jesus’ words is to watch any person from any culture experience the new birth in Christ. That new birth brings freedom from the guilt of their sin and hope of eternal life with Jesus. Our mission is to share the truth regardless of the risk involved in doing so. The message of Jesus brings freedom, and the greatest freedom that all humanity longs for is the freedom to be free of fear—the fear of living and the fear of dying.