We in the Free World appreciate and hold fast to our LIBERTY -- and are willing to die for it -- yet -- where is True Liberty today?
Much of the world is under the dominance of dictatorial rule -- actually a form of slavery -- and have little or no TRUE FREEDOM or LIBERTY.
The strongest statement ever made of LIBERTY was penned in the Bible by the Apostle Paul to the Church at Galatia -- "Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has set us FREE -- and do not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).
Then following this he gives a stern warning -- "For you have been called to LIBERTY -- only do not use your LIBERTY as an opportunity for the flesh-- but through LOVE serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).
LIBERTY is won only through sacrifice -- on the battle fields of the world -- or in the hearts of individuals. In the wars on this earth blood has been shed by millions of soldiers through the years. The LIBERTY and FREEDOM we have today has cost brave men their lives -- thus -- we should not use that FREEDOM in a selfish way for personal gain -- but rather to make sure that the future generations will also realize LIBERTY and FREEDOM in their time.
The greatest sacrifice for FREEDOM was when the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Only Son, gave His Life and shed His Blood on the Cross of Calvary -- volunteering His all to set us FREE from the bondage if sin -- forever.
The price for sin has always been the shedding of blood -- and God makes it very clear in His word -- "All things are purged by blood and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin" (Hebrews 9:22).
In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve went against God's Command they attempted to cover their nakedness with fig leaves -- but God slew animals-- shed their blood -- and made coats of skin to cover Adam and Eve -- this was the first Blood Sacrifice recorded in the Bible.
Later when Cane's sacrifice of fruit and vegetables was rejected and Abel's Blood Sacrifice of animal flesh was accepted it sealed exactly what was required of man to appease a Just and Righteous God.
Another verse on the source of True LIBERTY is found in the Apostle Paul's writing -- "Now the Lord is the Spirit -- and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
The Apostle James also brings this out clearly -- "He who looks into the Perfect Law of LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be Blessed in what he does" (James 1:25). To have True LIBERTY is a life-time of -- Obedience to God's Commands, Total Surrender to the Service of Jesus Christ, Full Submission to the Leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Peter then gives us a very stern warning -- "For this is the Will of God -- that by doing good you might put to silence the ignorance of foolish men   -- as FREE -- yet not using your LIBERTY as a covering for vice, but as Servants of God" (1 Peter 2:15-16).
We as Christians can proclaim that we are the FREEST people on earth -- there are no man-made written laws that can stop us from committing any crime -- or breaking any of God's Commandments -- BUT -- there is the higher law of LOVE that prevents us.
The best known Verse in the Bible -- John 3:16 says -- "For God so LOVED the people of the world, that He gave His Only Son, that whoever Believes in Him should not die, but have Everlasting Life"  -- If God LOVED us that much, then we should appreciate His Great LOVE by LOVING Him in return and doing our very best to -- obey the Laws of the land -- and -- to keep His Commandments.
God GAVE His Most Prized Possession, His Only Son -- Jesus GAVE His Life and Rose Again from the grave -- the only way we can receive this Valuable Gift of Salvation is by LOVING Him and Surrendering our Lives for Him.
Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life -- NO ONE comes to the Father except through ME" (John 14:6). There is ONE and ONLY ONE WAY to God and Heaven -- that is through the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ -- HE'S ALIVE! -- HE LIVES!
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (TODAY) and you will be Saved" (Acts 16:31)
THEN YOU WILL KNOW TRUE LIBERTY!
For more information or counseling contact Pastor Bruce R. Burke, Open Bible Ministries, 263 Edgefield Road,  Lake Ariel, PA 18436; Phone (570)698-7890; cell (570)470-3760 or e-mail openbiblemin@verizon.net.