We’ve all been slaves to something or other in this life.  The greatest burden we carry is is our long list of wrong doings towards others.  There is nothing that strips us of our freedom more than forgetting what the price is for our redemption.

In the story of Les Miserables, we see a victim of “the system” escape from his bondage by his own strength and initiative.  He becomes a fugitive and is continually hunted down by a zealous keeper of the law.  Written by Victor Hugo, a French author who lived during the Romantic Period of writing.  Many of his works touch on the subject of slavery, freedom, redemption and the injustices of this world.

As we continue in our own sort of incarceration, through this bloody lockdown and stagnant economy – as we feel the weight of not being able to touch others physically or carry on conversations in small groups or sing our songs of praise without wearing a mask – we naturally feel oppressed.  It has only been half a year, but it seems like forever.  Imagine what it would be like to be imprisoned for a lifetime for stealing a loaf of bread.

Our freedom is a precious gift, which has been paid for by the blood of many who fought to win it.  Our spiritual freedom is so much more.  Jesus, the Son of God, endured a horrific death, shame, hatred and injustice so that we could enjoy the splendor of His kingdom.  He didn’t have to do this.  We certainly didn’t deserve such a gift.  We can never repay what He’s done, but we can live as free people, because our sin has been taken to the cross.

When we choose to become slaves to sin and go back to ways that held us before, we’re rejecting the most precious gift ever given.  Redemption is ours when we choose it.  When we choose to reject it, we again become slaves to sin.

“Our natural, inalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation from government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment.”
― Ronald Reagan