Freedom is sweetest to those who’ve known some type of confinement. All across northern France, for example, countless towns and villages have streets re-named with the date of their liberation by Allied Forces in WWII (i.e. Rue du 22 novembre, Mulhouse, Alsace). Such was the pure joy of regaining freedom. Across North America, in cancer clinics, patients, after their final treatment, ring a bell in celebration, accompanied by the cheers of nurses and family members. Graduations, too, are often marked by raucous cheering and shouting; some by throwing their hats and mortar boards high into the air. Time to party. And on a smaller scale, who doesn’t remember the enticing scent of freedom when they passed their driver’s test? Highways and byways, here we come!
When Jesus had perfectly fulfilled the fine print of the Law and returned to his Father, the pathway was cleared at last for the Father to send the Holy Spirit into the lives of all Jesus’ followers. All sins were prepaid. Barriers were demolished. Adoption was signed, sealed and delivered.
The first disciples, the Apostles, were the first group to be seized with the new freedom in the Spirit. My guess is that the sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating. There was a buoyancy, a vigor, a passion, beyond their wildest dreams. The Spirit in them was so energized, he made them and their presentation of the Gospel near irresistible, with the result that thousands were joining them in worship and praise of Jesus. And the Father? He was so jazzed that His children were finally coming home to spend an uninterruptible eternity with Him!
For 2000 years, the Father has had His Spirit tirelessly working in the hearts of each generation of believers, stirring them up to be witnesses of the Love Mission which has captured their hearts. The goal is to welcome more and more children back home because God’s desire, always and ever, has been that His house be filled to overflowing with the happy chaos of Family. (And Jesus told his disciples that his Father’s house had many dwelling places. Cf. John 14:2 TPT).
We’re ‘it’ in the 21st Century. The baton has been passed to us to carry during our lifetimes. The Spirit guides and prompts and teaches and corrects today as He’s always done. Our beyond-words privilege is to obey, watching awestruck, as He does His work through us. The weak and foolish and powerless are some of God’s favorites for getting the Word out. And here’s ‘the why’ in Paul’s words: “. . . with eager expectation, all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children.” Rom. 8:22, TPT. Yep! Creation’s still crying out, waiting for Kingdom freedom fighters to show up. Till tomorrow, 10 AM, 3 PM UK, 4 PM FR, ES. See y’all then! PD
