Explosive Freedom

Dad gathered everyone out on the street for the big annual firework finale!

Dad’s not one for safety, or sanity, on the regular, so mix in fireworks and you truly never know what you’re going to get.

But he is all the way passionate about poppin’ some works.

We all gathered around and watched him set up the grand-finale fireworks display.  He had found a display that spelled out USA…which he made sure to highlight and brag about ALL DAY leading up to this moment.  Much pride over this particular kajillion dollar purchase he had made on the side of the interstate.

Display set up, Dad turned around to the crowd of onlookers and began to make a speech.  At the top of his lungs he began his monologue.  It was dramatic and full of USA love…very over the top (which is my good ole’ dad…I get it honestly you guys).  He talked about freedom and all the things that are possible for those who live in this great country.  The freedom that people have fought so hard for.  He spoke of the land of the brave, soldiers, the president (he covered all the feels) and then made us all sing the National Anthem.

So there we were, standing in the street singing, as my dad conducted his choir with the lit lighter he would then use to light the display.

He turned around towards the display, muttered something about “Osama Bin Laden never defeating us” and lit the fireworks.

What we, NOR HE, knew was that he had set the display up POINTING TOWARDS THE CROWD, so that we could see the USA shape of the fireworks.  (pride comes before a great fall)

So when the display began to EXPLODE fireworks…they shot directly at the crowd of ‘Merica loving’ innocent bystanders.  I mean straight at us.

We literally scattered like cockroaches…there was screaming, diving for cover and expletives left and right.  Literal screams for our life rang out into the 4th of July air.  It was terrifying and looked like a scene out of an end-times movie.

People and bodies and explosions and screams.  And then silence.

We had survived.  God Bless America.

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We have the ability to be free.

We have full access to freedom.  Complete and utter freedom.  The kind of wide open space-take a deep breath in kind of freedom.

But freedom can be scary.  The way to freedom is often unexpected.  Freedom can seem elusive and impossible.  Freedom requires that we let go of control and put one foot in front of the other totally dependent on Jesus.

And so we don’t light the display of our lives.  We shy away from the first steps to our complete freedom because we’re so used to being stuck.  We’re used to our not-free life.  We know stuck.  We know the cycle, the rut, the funk.  It’s comfy to us.

So we look at the explosive nature of freedom…all the unknowns, what it might require of us, what we may have to sacrifice…never mind the fear of failure.  It’s all too much.

And so we never get free.

Here’s the GREAT news:  because of Jesus, the work of freedom has already been done…completed and finished.  Our freedom doesn’t require anything we have to offer at all.  It only requires our YES!  It requires our choice to walk in what is available for us.  When He said “It is finished” He meant it.  He had completed the errand He was sent to do.  And that errand included shouldering ALL of our mess…all of it.  When He breathed His last breath, WE BECAME FREE.

What if today you could celebrate your FOR REAL freedom.  What if you could walk away from a struggle, a sin, a burden that you’ve been lugging around and be free…forever?

Your life has explosive potential already-it’s time to light it up.

Freedom is possible.  In fact, it’s already done.

Read more about it:

Psalm 119:45
Psalm 118:5
Romans 6:22
2 Corinthians 3:17

**Please do not try anything that you read in this blog at home.  My dad is not a professional.**