On Freedom

Well, this past weekend we celebrated Independence Day.

Of course, with Independence Day comes thoughts about freedom.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to spend some time reading 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Initially, I wouldn't have really thought that these books have much to do with freedom. However, after reading the books and the introduction found in the Message Remix, they seem to have a great deal to say about freedom.

The Freedom of God.

Freedom that comes from hope.

Hope that comes from a sense of future.

It seems that the church at Thessalonica got this: (I'm quoting from the Message)

"They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom."

They waited expectantly.

I like this word, expectantly.

It certainly has a future connotation. But to me it also has this present connotation as well. Eager anticipation. Kind of like waking up on Christmas morning and knowing the presents are in the basement but waiting before heading downstairs to open them.

This word expectantly exudes a sense of hope, a sense of confidence.

Paul made it pretty clear that this is open to all of us:

"We weren't aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children."

This is pretty awesome.

And with this future orientation comes a conquest.

The banishment of Fear.

And with the banishment of fear comes promises and possibilities and challenges.

"We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like the others."

"Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely."

So long story short: What does all this mean to me? Well, it says to me that with this future hope, I am free from fears and pains and don't have to wait to live out that future life of glory. There is no need to sleepwalk through life. In fact, God wants to infuse each day, each moment, with his own energy.

Now that sounds like freedom.