JOHN CH 8:32 | VERSE OF THE DAY | STOP LIVING A LIE

People are normally comfortable with a lie as long as it is not affecting them. When we see tragedy around the world, for the most part, we take pity on the situation but carry on with our day to day lives because we are not being directly impacted by what is happening. This is not to say we should live with guilt and stop what we are doing, because when all is said and done, no matter what is happening around you, the bills don’t pay themselves, so rightfully so people have to continue to go to work etc. But the point I am making here is the impact to make one move, so to speak.

As the church, when we see things happening around the world, we have a duty of care to at least gather in prayer and intercede for those who are suffering. That is what I mean by making a move. This move is not going to be influenced by a carnal mindset. It is influenced by He that sacrificed Himself for us. As ‭John 8:32 reads, “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Knowing the freedom that comes with being a believer in Christ Jesus, should move you particularly when you see wrongs being done to so many around the world.

That freedom is the understanding and knowing that sin is masked as freedom when, in fact, it comes with balls and chains. Many think they are free because they are able to have their “rights” or at least fight for them because they have freedom of speech. But is it really freedom if the moment you come into disagreement with the world’s views of same sex relations because they go against God’s design for the human race, or if you say that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and to be reconciled with God and all other religions worship false deities, or if you refuse to use pronouns that are grammatically innacurate etc. you will have a mob of people condemning you and labelling you with having a phobia of sorts.

That does not seem like freedom to me. I can only imagine the fear one must live with when they come to the realisation that being a part of or living certain lifestyles is in fact not right, and they decide they want to repent from said lifestyle. There have been a lot of horror stories of the troubles many have faced when they try to leave behind the worldly lifestyle, with some having their lives being threatened.

Just by looking at this can one discern and ask themselves as to why there is “freedom” to practice any religion that exists, but the moment one becomes a Christian, it is usually met with uproar and criticism. Think about it, look at countries that live in dictatorships. The leaders will do everything in their power for the people not to know the truth about their circumstances and the truth about the outside world. Because that knowledge can result in a rebellion, and it could weaken the power the dictator has on their people. That is the same tactic Satan uses on the unbeliever. He plants a fear of societal backlash and inspires a mob mentality. Where people are ostracised and made to feel like pariahs when they go against the world view of things and refuse to conform to the world’s lifestyle.

Many truly believe that they are free, but real freedom does not come with condemnation. It does not come with judgement, and it does not come with being forced to conform or agree or risk being ostracised. The truth is loving. It embraces you even when you are wrong and sinful, and it does not shun you away. Because that truth is the Word of God. It does not matter what your sexual orientation is or if you have been practising divination and a part of new age beliefs; it does not matter what lifestyle you have been living. Yes, all those things are not in alignment with who God is, but that is not the core of the issue. The core of the issue is holiness and returning to God and becoming who He created us to be. That can not happen by our own efforts or thinking we can pray the gay away, or pray the witchcraft away, or pray the porn addiction away. Not without Jesus. It takes Jesus first and foremost because through Him, can we receive the new nature that is not sinful. Through Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit where our nature is no longer of sin. That is why scripture says to come as we are. One can not get clean before taking a bath. You have to take a bath first in order to become clean.

The beauty of receiving Jesus is that scripture tells us that for there is no condemnation for  those who love the Lord. Meaning that whatever it is that you used to do or are still struggling with that God is working on in you. You don’t have to feel shame or embarrassed. Once you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you do not have to worry about the sins you committed or might still commit, for it is written that God the Father remembers our sin, no more. Meaning past, present, and future God does not see your sin. He sees you through the purification of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for you and me, taking our place for our sin to be punished through Him so we can have a chance at salvation and eternal life with our Father. This is not to say that you should continue to deliberately sin because you have been forgiven, quite the contrary. With the renewing of the mind, because of your new nature, that is pure. Your desires of the things of the world will feign, and your desire for the things of God will increase. This means you will grow to sin less and less as you develop your relationship with the Father and grow in your faith.

This truth that comes with salvation reveals to you the chains of sin that you were bound to. Where although it seemed lovely and fun, there was no joy, there was no holiness in it, there was no freedom, for sin is bondage masked as freedom. When all is said and done, why is there a fear or negative consequence when you try to or leave a sinful lifestyle or habit behind? Could it be the “fun” these things came with were, in fact, you pacifying the hurt, pain, and trauma you experienced at some point in your life? The Lord loves you, and all He wants is for you to come to Him, it is not up to man to help you come out of a sinful lifestyle, man can only tell you about the gospel of Jesus, God is the only one that can reconcile you with Him, but you have to be willing to let him.