Creating Man: Gifts for the Adventurous Sample

You Are Free

I love the animal kingdom. There are so many familiar stories to us in that kingdom. I know most of you know about ducks. When they come out of the shell, they imprint and follow the first creature they see. Thankfully, that would be their mother and they learn to walk, swim and eat.

In Genesis 2:16, God said to Adam, "you are free to eat from any tree in the garden.” I want to focus on the first three words that Adam heard from the Father, "You are free." We, especially American Christians, would gloss over "You are free" without a second thought. We grew up in a free manner. Even today, some regions limit freedom for their citizens.

However, God never spoke these words to another creation in all eternity. "You are free" started a new chapter in the Father's book. He was giving humankind freedom for what we call free will. Adam could have freedom and use it as he wills.

Adam was the first to hear the words that he was free. God created us to be free from sin, poor choices, and the consequences of these behaviors. We were born free to obey the Father and walk in His ways instead of our ways. Thanks be to Christ, who paid the total price for all of our sins. The words "It is finished" give us back our freedom to choose His way over our own. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free". II Corinthians 3:17 says, "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom."

We are created to be free, to decide, to choose. Our Father's heart is that we would use our freedom to choose His ways and His heart in the way we love and relate to those around us, including ourselves. He hopes we don't use our freedom to trap ourselves in continuous sins, lusts and behaviors that limit us.

Freedom is a great gift. Freedom was not free. It cost Jesus coming to earth, dying, and rising from the dead so we could choose His voice, ways, and heart in all matters and all relationships.

I pray we all appreciate this fantastic gift given to Adam and live totally restored in Christ. We are the most free people on the planet if we so choose to value and protect the freedom Christ alone has given to us.