One thing I have seen and therefore think is true is that ‘drugs’
stop working. Obviously, you can keep drugging up or keep drinking or keep
having sex, but eventually it all goes away. All these things are often abused
for escape, but the question is what from we are trying to escape. It seems
like every person is looking for more. We are naturally given a drive to go and
to do and to experience and, ultimately, find something that has deep, eternal
meaning. Meaning that doesn't go away, to have true freedom that is completely ‘else’
from our lives as we know them. In fact, every religion in the world is
centered on one main idea: somehow, we got here and now something is wrong and
it needs to be fixed.
I watched “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” with my family
yesterday, and all I could think about was how Walter’s life is so much like
everyone’s life: our actions are built around being content with what we have
and trying to be safe, but everything in us is built to crave more. We live
trying to pad our lives so the inevitable storm or fall doesn't hurt as much
(escapism, drugs, and comfort are commonly used padding elements [read: idols])
while we yearn to break free of the silly, useless things holding us down and
live fully in freedom.
John 10:10 says this: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.” (NASB) Jesus came to do a lot of things and
one was to bring life full of freedom and fulfillment. Basically, Jesus is what
we are looking for. Obviously, Jesus is Messiah. He is the fulfillment of all prophecies.
He is the righteous King and Lord of everything that was created by and through
Him. However, He is not only those things, but indeed the one entity that will
give us water that will never make us thirst again. He will give us the satisfaction
that does not wear off and does not quit. Jesus doesn't just offer salvation
from hell when we die, but also a daily salvation from the kingdom of hell that
we are slaves in.
There is a reason
Jesus came to earth and took on flesh and lived 33 years. God could have done
salvation another way, but chose Jesus’ life for a reason. Jesus came to bring
life and life to the full, not just being fully saved after we die. The Gospel
works in power to set us free from the bondage of sin and fear and slavery.
Jesus, who is literally God forever, took on human flesh and died and
resurrected so that He could be glorified and we could live. If this is true
and we depend on it, there is literally nothing that can encumber our freedom
because we are in full communion with the God we were created by and for.
Go and live with this call from the author of Hebrews
(12:1-3):
“Therefore, since we
have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin
which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such
hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
