What Happens When We Are No Longer Grateful For Our Freedom?

This was written by Alexander Fraser Tytler, a European historian and published in 1776 in The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic. In his publication, Tytler reported that from his research he had determined the following:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over a loss of fiscal responsibility, always followed by a dictatorship. The average of the world's great civilizations before they decline has been 200 years. These nations have progressed in this sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith,
From spiritual faith to great courage,
From courage to liberty,
From liberty to abundance,
From abundance to selfishness,
From selfishness to complacency,
From complacency to apathy,
From apathy to dependency,
From dependency back again to bondage."

If Tytler's conclusion is correct, this year America exceeded the average length for a democratic form of government by 33 years.

I believe the same can be said for our spiritual liberties.  When the church is fought and forced to go into hiding and Christians were being killed for their faith they exhibited great spiritual faith and courage. They were fed to the lions and burned at the stake. However once Christianity became accepted and celebrated as the norm its importance in one’s life soon began to diminish and the cycle continues.

This holiday weekend let us search within ourselves and ask ourselves how courageous we are in our stance for Christ and all the Christian life stands for.  What are we willing to die for, because that is what we are willing to live for?

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV) “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

For as far back as you can go man has desired freedom. The Hebrew slaves desired freedom from Egypt. The captives of the Babylonians desired freedom. The Pilgrims desired freedom.  The black slaves desired freedom. It was the desire of Nelson Mandela.  The desire for freedom has even outweighed the desire for love. Many have left loved ones and family that they might find freedom.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

When we have it we don’t appreciate it and we lack it we would give all for it.  Freedom can be found in Christ and in Him even if we are bound we are freer than one who is not bound.  

Appearances can be deceiving.  We may look at someone and pity them because of the circumstances they are in not knowing that in their minds and hearts they are freer than we are.  It is wonderful to be free from addictions, judgement, bitterness, sin, and unforgiveness just to name a few.  Many are imprisoned in their hearts and minds because they have rejected Christ and likewise many are bound in poverty, broken bodies, broken marriages and are experiencing freedom because they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Whom the son sets free is free indeed. (John 8:36) As we are celebrating the freedom that has been won for our nations let’s not forget to thank God through His Son that we are free indeed. Freedom is not about wearing Red, White and Blue but the one whose back bleed red, was beaten till it was blue and who made us white as snow.

Freedom isn’t free. Freedom was bought with a price. The freedom and liberty that you and I have to travel wherever we please, to worship wherever we choose, to think, say and even write whatever we like are all freedoms that were paid for by the precious blood of patriots and lovers of freedom from the Revolutionary War to the War in Iraq. We enjoy liberty today, because yesterday, men and women willingly sacrificed their lives.

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

The same is true in the spirit.  We are free because Jesus gave His life.  Jesus took sickness upon Himself so we could walk in health. Jesus took poverty so we could walk in abundance. He took death so we could have everlasting life.  Freedom isn’t free.

Freedom is also not a license to do whatever we please. We adults want the freedom of quality life with pure drinking water, safe food, good roads, little or no crime, but we don’t want the responsibility of paying taxes to insure these blessings. Citizens of our nation want the right of free elections, yet many won’t even bother to walk across the street to vote. Many want sex without responsibility that goes with it. Freedom isn’t license. Freedom isn’t just doing what we want to do. With freedom comes responsibility.

Luke 12:48 (NIV) “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

As we celebrate the holiday, let’s not only be thankful for the freedom we enjoy; let’s also consider the cost that our ancestors paid and the cost that’s required of us today. Freedom isn’t free.