THE COSTLIEST FREEDOM
By the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor. 4:2, R.S.V.
Those of us whose families for several generations have been United States citizens too often take for granted the wonderful freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution. Our cradles were rocked by the great-granddaughters of the American Revolution--whose own cradles were made secure by established precedents of civil and religious liberty.
We have forgotten (or perhaps we never really understood) the price of our nationally celebrated freedoms. Undeniably, there was bloodshed and loss of life. However, there was something equally costly, something inherent in the framing of our Constitution. It is what made our nation unique among all other nations. In a nutshell, it is the concept that freedom of conscience should be guaranteed to all people, even though we recognize that some would misuse that very freedom.
Think about it! Would you, should you, give a person or people freedom when you know that they will possibly misuse it? It is not an easy question to answer, especially when it means the potential hurt of other innocent people. Yet in order to preserve the dignity and value of individuals, it is expedient that such freedom be allowed. In fact, it is for this very reason that God Himself has chosen freedom rather than forces as the foundation of the government of heaven.
As our text today indicates, God desires our intelligent response to truth and our genuine allegiance to His kingdom. He is interested in the quality of our relationship with Him, not merely proper behavior. In order to preserve our ability to be open and candid in our friendship with Him, He has given us the real option of not agreeing with Him. The fact that He is our only source of life is revealed to our minds only because it is reality. It is not a treat; we may choose not to believe this.
What a testimony of God's faith in our ultimate destiny! We were created to enter into genuine, spontaneous friendship with Him and with all the other created beings of the universe. The cross of Calvary is an eternal testimony of the extent to which God has been willing to go to preserve that quality of friendship. Only as we begin to appreciate what it costs God to continue to guarantee us such freedom will we cherish every opportunity afforded us to improve our relationship with Him.
By the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor. 4:2, R.S.V.
Those of us whose families for several generations have been United States citizens too often take for granted the wonderful freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution. Our cradles were rocked by the great-granddaughters of the American Revolution--whose own cradles were made secure by established precedents of civil and religious liberty.
We have forgotten (or perhaps we never really understood) the price of our nationally celebrated freedoms. Undeniably, there was bloodshed and loss of life. However, there was something equally costly, something inherent in the framing of our Constitution. It is what made our nation unique among all other nations. In a nutshell, it is the concept that freedom of conscience should be guaranteed to all people, even though we recognize that some would misuse that very freedom.
Think about it! Would you, should you, give a person or people freedom when you know that they will possibly misuse it? It is not an easy question to answer, especially when it means the potential hurt of other innocent people. Yet in order to preserve the dignity and value of individuals, it is expedient that such freedom be allowed. In fact, it is for this very reason that God Himself has chosen freedom rather than forces as the foundation of the government of heaven.
As our text today indicates, God desires our intelligent response to truth and our genuine allegiance to His kingdom. He is interested in the quality of our relationship with Him, not merely proper behavior. In order to preserve our ability to be open and candid in our friendship with Him, He has given us the real option of not agreeing with Him. The fact that He is our only source of life is revealed to our minds only because it is reality. It is not a treat; we may choose not to believe this.
What a testimony of God's faith in our ultimate destiny! We were created to enter into genuine, spontaneous friendship with Him and with all the other created beings of the universe. The cross of Calvary is an eternal testimony of the extent to which God has been willing to go to preserve that quality of friendship. Only as we begin to appreciate what it costs God to continue to guarantee us such freedom will we cherish every opportunity afforded us to improve our relationship with Him.
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