Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)

Freedom Is Never Free

The price of freedom always comes at a high cost. In America, Memorial Day is remembered to honor those who died in battle to defend the American way of life. Many of these soldiers did not have a choice as conscripts in the wars fought all over the globe. They had plans and dreams of life, hopes for a better future, and the belief they would survive the battles. Sadly, death had a greater hand in their lives, and they never returned home to enjoy the fruits of freedom. Cemeteries are filled with marble monuments inscribed with the names of soldiers who gave everything. Freedom is never free.

It is fitting and honorable for the community to reflect upon the countless thousands of men and women who died for the honor of their fellow man and country. Freedom is purchased with the sacrifice of the willing and the unwilling. It is said that old men start wars where young men must die to end the war. The First World War was to be the war that ended all wars. It only took twenty-one years for the Second World War to erupt. Since 1945, America has been in dozens of wars and incursions. Wars will never end, and men will find ways to kill their fellow man. The United Nations is the modern Tower of Babel that proves men cannot live in peace with one another. Understanding the root causes of war will never come from the wisdom of men but from the word of God. Freedom is never free.

Wars are fought as a consequence of sin. It seems too simplistic to attach cause and effect to the nature of sin. The reason Cain killed Abel was sinful pride and hatred. Murder has been the staple of the human heart ever since. The darkness of sin covered the earth with a blanket of prejudice, envy, hatred, malice, and pride. Nations destroyed nations for nothing. There was no answer to lift man from the mire of death. Human wisdom could not solve the problem. Humanity could never know true freedom. The world was in a hopeless and desperate place. And then a child was born in Bethlehem. Freedom is never free.

The Son of God left His place with the Father to take on flesh in the form of His creation. Man’s freedom from sin began when Jesus left Heaven. There is nothing comparable in the annals of human history to understand the depth of sacrifice for God to leave His habitation to come in the form of man. Jesus began to free humankind from sin by first leaving His Father. The life of Jesus was a sacrifice. He was born of a woman. Jesus grew as a young man in body and spirit, fighting the wiles of the devil, refusing to give in to the temptations of the evil one. At the age of thirty, the Lord began His ministry, knowing it would lead to death on the cross. Freedom is never free.

Jesus kept His word to the Father and completed His mission to redeem sinful men from the scourge of sin. Adam and Eve disobeyed the will of God, resulting in the condemnation of sin’s penalty. Through one man’s offense, judgment came to all men. Humanity stood condemned. Freedom from sin would require the death of one Man. Through the righteous act of sacrifice, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Jesus paid the highest price for freedom in the history of humankind. There will never be a greater price paid. Through one man’s disobedience, the world was doomed with condemnation. By one Man’s obedience, the path to righteousness was made possible.

Freedom is never free, and it costs the Son of God everything to open the vistas of eternal life for a creature that did not deserve anything from a wrathful God. Memorial Day is a beautiful testimony of thanksgiving for the sacrifice of the countless who died to secure freedom. It took the death of one Man to ensure the price of freedom from sin; and what an incredibly high cost Jesus paid because of my sin. On the first day of every week, I can tell my God, “Thank you” for the sacrifice of His Son. I can tell Jesus, “Thank you” for the price He paid to give me freedom. I know freedom is never free, and I thank God for Jesus Christ.