What it really means to be free

 

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”— Revelation 5:9

In his famous little book On Christian Truth, Harry Blamires suggests that we think of the human race aboard a hijacked jetliner flying through time. He writes,

“God himself directed its takeoff from the divine control-tower. The initiator of all evil, whom we call the Devil, managed to get a boarding pass. When the plane reached its cruising altitude, the Devil produced his weapons, threatened the pilot, and took control of the aircraft and all its passengers.”

Thus the plane hopped on fearfully through history from airport to airport until, he writes,

“(I)t was caught on the tarmac at Jerusalem, an outpost of the Roman empire, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, where the Son of God offered himself as sole hostage in exchange for the passengers and crew.”

It was that glorious exchange that bought freedom for all of those who trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Yet at the same time, there are many who still sit on the plane, not believing it has been hijacked and refusing to accept the freedom that’s been offered to them.

If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, you can be sure that your life has been exchanged for His. And because of that, you’ll live forever with Him. So thank God for that wonderful exchange, and live your life to tell others about the freedom they can have through Christ’s sacrifice for them!

Prayer Challenge

Thank God that He sent Jesus to offer Himself for your freedom.

Questions for thought

What does it say about the value God’s placed on your life that He sent Jesus to exchange His life for yours?

Who are some people in your life today with whom you can share this wonderful news?