YOU CAN BE FREE TODAY

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (Ephesians 1:7, 8 ESV)

When I think of the word redemption I picture a slave who has been put on the auction block to be sold to the highest buyer.  He is in captivity and has seen the worse of mankind's efforts.  He is of little use to the master who is in a sense throwing him away.  The bidding takes place and the highest bid goes to one man - Jesus Christ who paid with His own blood - the ultimate price that could be paid.  The slave is freed and taken to a place where not only will he be free but He will also become the "adopted" son with full rights to the inheritance.  What a drastic shift in circumstances.  The word "redemption" is a very interesting word with many connotations for all of mankind everywhere.  It means to be "bought us back" - "to be liberated."  Jesus did that with His blood.  He paid the "ransom" for your freedom from captivity.  Think about the bondage and or sin that has kept you bound and trapped throughout your lifetime - whether you are a Christian or not.  Imagine that it is you in that prison looking out and wondering if you will ever be free.  Now, I want you to imagine that Jesus walks up the prison door and unlocks it and lovingly says, "You are free to go now to come and follow me."  You would think that most would take advantage of that opportunity and go free.  But sadly, that is not the case for people as the don't want to accept the freedom given to them.  I once heard of a man that had captured an eagle and put a chain on it's leg that was attached to a log.  All that the eagle could do was walk in a circle around the log.  He did this for years and years.  He could see the mountains in a distance and he could see other eagles flying around in the sky but he could not go to those places because of his captivity.  As fate would have it, this man was found out by some official and was required to cut the chain of the eagle to allow it to go free. The problem was this; the eagle keep going in circles in the same pattern it always walked in.  It didn't know that there was option now for him - that... he could fly.  Finally, with a little nudging he was able to move away from his bondage into the freedom that was before him.  Jesus has given you the opportunity to be free in every sense of the word.  He has "bought you with a price,"  he has "unlocked" your prison doors and he has also "cut every chain" holding you back.  He has given you every opportunity to follow him in every way.  You are redeemed today!