The Paradox of Freedom

Freedom. I hear this word a lot in the news these days. It is the reason cited for all kinds of actions by all kinds of people from presidents to Palestinians, from perverts to Prime Ministers. Everybody wants freedom and everyone seems to be defining freedom according to their own desires. What is freedom? Is it simply the right to do whatever you want? That seems to be the common American definition. “I can do whatever I want!” is the cry of Western freedom. The problem with defining freedom that way is that what I “want” may or may not be good for me or for others. The pursuit of what I “want” may in fact lead me into slavery. Choices have consequences. We will reap what we sow. Is freedom the right to do whatever I want?

The World and my flesh agree that freedom is to do whatever you feel like doing, but that path leads only to death and destruction. The problem is that my desires are warped. To give into my base desires will prevent my soul from taking flight. I would be mired in addictions and selfishness. Where is the freedom in that?

There are so many lies that taste so good in our mouths. They look so sweet and satisfying; they are sweet on the tongue, but sour in the stomach. More than that, the more you eat these sweet lies, the more you want. The hunger grows in intensity the more you strive to satiate it. True food for the soul is sweet and satisfying. True food is to do the will of the Father, not out of guilt or compulsion, but out of trust. True intimacy and love leads to satisfaction and security. The false, the counterfeit, can be clearly recognized by the results it produces in the lives of those who strive after it. Ever hungry, ever dissatisfied, their striving never ceases as they continue to glut themselves on the very thing that drives their appetites to new heights.

My mind and body have been trained to think and respond to the world in ways that are self-centered and often delusional. The fact is that I do not rightly perceive the reality around me. I am like a man boldly striding through the fog; claiming to see, I am unaware of the perils or the blessings that surround me. As I wander through the fog I run into others. They encourage me that we are heading the right direction; blind guides leading the blind. My only real hope is to recognize and embrace the reality of my blindness and to trust in God as my friend and only reliable guide. He knows what is true and He knows the right path. He promises to lead me on the right path if I will trust in Him.

The paradox of freedom is that the experience of freedom that our hearts long for is only found through humble submission. When I sow obedience I reap freedom. True freedom is to trust God and to walk in His ways.

Freedom is both a choice and an experience. Most often the “struggle for freedom” is directed toward the external world, but I find that my struggle is more internal. I am struggling to find freedom from internal forces, compulsions, urges from my flesh. The other day I experienced freedom from compulsion through most of the day. I went through the day without experiencing the urge to do something that would lead me back into slavery. Then, later in the evening I felt the urge to sin rising in me. I had to choose to resist. The choice to stay in the light when the darkness beckons doesn’t feel like freedom. It is a difficult struggle. But it is the choice that makes the experience of freedom possible.

I reject the false freedom that the World strives after and holds out as the highest goal. I choose to trust and serve the Almighty God and to follow Him. Taste and see that He is good and satisfying. All His ways are good and true freedom is found in His service.