Well, today is the 4th of July, and no matter what you are doing, if you live in the United States, you will probably hear the word freedom. As Americans, we set aside this day to celebrate the fact that we live in a country which recognizes that national strength is a byproduct of the liberty of her citizens. According to the dictionary, freedom means “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint,” and far from being limited to nations or governments, it is all God’s idea!

You see, when you are in Jesus, more than being a citizen of a country, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Though you still live physically on the earth, you have dual citizenship: you dwell in a spiritual Kingdom even though your body resides here. The good news about this is that your eternal destiny is not subject to the limitations and failures of human governments. Although freedom is esteemed and sought by our nation, as a country, we are still affected by sin and its pervasive effect on humanity. Thankfully, our residence in the Kingdom of God overrules the power of wrong, regardless of what is going on around us. This means that we are free indeed! 

Friend, it’s good to celebrate liberty, and because of who you are in Jesus, you can rejoice not only in what you enjoy on earth, but in what you partake of in a Kingdom that has no end! When you find your identity in the One who calls you by name, your heart and soul are completely free. You are no longer a slave to sin and fear, but can rest confidently and safely in the perfect love of your Savior. No matter what you’ve done or ever will do, He accepts you, and your heart is whole in Him. From the freedom of your soul flows a life that is rich in spiritual treasure — the kind whose worth far outweighs even the best that this earth can offer. Isn’t that wonderful news?