As we celebrate Independence Day in the United States, our attention naturally turns to the freedoms we enjoy as citizens. While political freedom is indeed a great blessing, Scripture directs us to an even greater reality—true freedom, the freedom that only God can bestow.
Since the dawn of creation, humanity has longed to be free. This longing is neither accidental nor superficial; it is a profound yearning God has placed deep within our hearts. The capacity to choose, to think, to speak, and to act without oppression is intrinsic to being made in God’s image. When people strive for freedom in any form, they are responding to this God-given desire.
From a biblical standpoint, freedom serves as a valuable guideline by which to discern the godly from the ungodly in both private conduct and public governance. Generally, a law or system that promotes personal liberty and fosters human flourishing reflects God’s heart, whereas one that restricts or oppresses works contrary to His purposes.
Yet, beyond the political realm, the most essential form of freedom is spiritual.
Jesus declared, “If you remain in my teaching, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31–32).
Here, Christ affirms that truth is the foundation of genuine liberty. The liberating truth is found in his words and teachings. Conversely, to believe falsehood is to remain in bondage. Regrettably, many live under deception—regarding God, themselves, and the world—unaware of their spiritual captivity.
Think of a bird born inside a cage. It knows nothing but the bars that surround it. Though it longs to fly, it doesn’t truly understand what freedom means. I once owned a bird named Lovey—a beautiful sun conure I bought for my kids. I wasn’t much of a bird person, but I wanted a pet that required little care. Lovey fit perfectly. She was bright and full of life, but she lived inside a cage, limited in where she could go.
One day, the cage door was left open. At first, Lovey hesitated, unsure of what lay beyond her small world. But when she finally took flight, she saw just how small her previous world had been—the narrowness of her cage, the limits she never imagined.
This is what spiritual bondage is like—living unaware of how confined our lives really are until Jesus opens our eyes to the greater freedom waiting for us. He shows us the way out and walks with us as we step into the fullness of the freedom he offers.
The Apostle Paul addresses this condition in Romans 8:
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed… that the creation itself will also be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:19, 21).
Creation itself groans for deliverance, as do we. The suffering and injustice evident in the world remind us that all is not yet as it should be. Yet Scripture assures us that a time will come when Jesus returns, bringing the fullness of liberation.
Until then, how shall we persevere? How do we sustain hope amid the weight of present trials?
The apostle Paul exhorts us to fix our gaze on the eternal, reminding us that our current afflictions are “light and momentary” compared to the “eternal glory” that awaits (2 Corinthians 4:17). Though we groan now, we do so with confidence, empowered by the spirit of God within us, which stirs within us a yearning for what is to come.
“For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
We need not wait until heaven to experience freedom. Each day presents the opportunity to embrace truth, reject fear, and walk in grace. This is the power Jesus grants—to live unshackled amid a world bound in chains.
This is the true hope of freedom: not merely freedom from sin and death, but freedom from pain, sorrow, confusion, and lack. It is a promise on which we can rely and a foundation for living with steadfastness and purpose today.
Therefore, as we commemorate our nation’s independence, let us not forget the greatest liberty of all—the freedom secured through Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
At The Living Truth Fellowship, our mission is to help those living in spiritual bondage find true and lasting freedom through the liberating truth of Jesus Christ. We seek to guide and encourage all who yearn for freedom—not merely as a political ideal, but as a transformative reality that changes hearts and lives.
True freedom goes beyond the flags we wave or the laws we pass. It isn’t tied to any place or political system—it’s something deeper, found in a heart changed by God’s grace. This kind of freedom can’t be taken away by governments or lost because of life’s ups and downs. It’s the freedom to live fully and without fear as God’s children, walking in the light of truth even when the world feels dark around us. This freedom is what holds us steady when everything else feels like it’s slipping away. It’s the quiet song in our hearts, the hope that keeps us moving forward, and the promise that one day we’ll stand face to face with the one who truly set us free.
Yours in Christ’s freedom,
