Liberty…

Liberty…

According to Merriam Webster, the definition of liberty is simply “the quality or state of being free”. Depending on your place in society, your choices, your country, your religion, and so many other factors, being free is different for everyone. Roughly 60% of Americans consider themselves Christians. That means that only a little over half of the people who live in what is considered the freest nation on Earth are actually free. The other 40% are in bondage.

You see, until we accept Christ, there is no freedom. We are slaves. 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We do not have freedom if we are not saved. We are bound by sin. The Spirit does not live within us and we are slaves.

Today took a very different turn than my husband and I expected. We got up, went to a great 4th of July parade, came home, and I mowed my mother-in-law’s yard before it got hot. While mowing, I saw vultures circling. Now, if you live on a cattle farm, this is not a good sign. My husband took me home to shower and cool, only to quickly call stating Sophia had died. Yes, we name our cows, every last one of them, and are not ashamed of this antiquated behavior. He stated she had calved about three days ago and probably had complications from childbirth we were unaware of. That means, her sweet baby was either dead or would die if we didn’t feed her soon. The search began. I prayed. No, I didn’t pray for her to be alive, but that we would find her no matter the outcome. I didn’t want her to suffer from starvation. I am realistic that this is a farm and animals die. But, Mama cows tend to hide their babies for a few days until they bring them to the herd. We began to look, and look, and search more. It was beginning to feel like we would not find her, when we spotted her wandering toward the herd, trying to cry, but not producing much sound.

Now, for the long story’s point. We named her Liberty. She will, the Lord willing, be a keeper as we have feed her milk replacer and she is already being spoiled. She is free from starvation, being feed and cared for. When we are saved, we are free from eternal suffering and are cared for by our Heavenly Father. His word feeds us. His hands hold us. He guides us, protects us, and directs us. In the end, we have all the everlasting freedom of an eternity with Him. Without Jesus, there is no liberty. Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”