Truly free indeed
Do you know what juneteenth is? It is the oldest known celebration of the freedom of the slaves following the civil war.The celebration is marked by the date of June 19th,1865 when union soldiers,led by Major General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston,Texas with news that the war had ended and all slaves were now free.Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincolns Emancipation Procamation which had become effective January 1st,1863.
That is what you call a serious delayed reaction.Possibly even an intentional delayed reaction on the part of Union troops.With the war ended what could possibly have taken two and a half years for the troops to make there way to Texas with the news the war was over and slaves were free.There is alot of speculation as to why it took that long however for whatever reason it did take that long.Legally the slaves were free for two and a half years however due to a lack of information they were still living as slaves.Can you imagine that and that is still the reason today why while we were set free from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we still live lives in slavery.Due to a lack of information!
Remember what Jesus said in the scriptures,'if you hold to my teachings,you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.' There is no condition on being legally free,100% legally free,however there is a condition on being set free.INFORMATION !
Some of us are not leading lives of the complete freedom God has designed for us because we do not know or have not held on to the teachings of Jesus Christ.Why would anyone not want to live with complete freedom,(not freedom as the world sees it but Gods design of freedom) one speculation is this.People are afraid of change. It is said that even after the news of freedom some former slaves chose to remain on the plantations and live out the rest of their lives as if they were still slaves.What a horrible tradgedy yet so many of us christians do the same thing today.Through faith in Jesus Christ alone the bible clearly shows that we are saved but we still choose to live as if we were unsaved. Why? Fear of the unknown and fear of change.Just as the slaves would have had to learn how to be citizens of the United States of America,they would have to take care of themselves for the first time in their lives,and be resposible for themselves.Noone would be to blame for their failures but themselves,(I'am speaking figuratively of course because we know our country continues to oppress the African American people to this day) but what I'am saying is that this news brought about such a complete change in the world of some people that it was to much for them or at least their fears made it to much for them.It is this same way for the lives of many christians today and throughout history,we are afraid of what it truly means to be free. There is an old saying that comes to mind right now,"ignorance is bliss." Alot of people live as if ignorance is bliss but that is a lie straight out of the pit. Not knowing all of the freedom God has designed for us is like winning the lottery and avoiding a phone call of one of the lottert officials trying to tell you how to claim your winnings.
O.K. I'am free from my sins I haven't learned much more than that yet and I have been afraid to but I want to know more about the freedom I'am supposed to be enjoying now.First of all we will not experience the freedom of God if we are lazy notice Jesus said 'if you hold on to my teaching,you are truly my disciples,then you will know the tuth and the truth will set you free.
That is what you call a serious delayed reaction.Possibly even an intentional delayed reaction on the part of Union troops.With the war ended what could possibly have taken two and a half years for the troops to make there way to Texas with the news the war was over and slaves were free.There is alot of speculation as to why it took that long however for whatever reason it did take that long.Legally the slaves were free for two and a half years however due to a lack of information they were still living as slaves.Can you imagine that and that is still the reason today why while we were set free from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we still live lives in slavery.Due to a lack of information!
Remember what Jesus said in the scriptures,'if you hold to my teachings,you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.' There is no condition on being legally free,100% legally free,however there is a condition on being set free.INFORMATION !
Some of us are not leading lives of the complete freedom God has designed for us because we do not know or have not held on to the teachings of Jesus Christ.Why would anyone not want to live with complete freedom,(not freedom as the world sees it but Gods design of freedom) one speculation is this.People are afraid of change. It is said that even after the news of freedom some former slaves chose to remain on the plantations and live out the rest of their lives as if they were still slaves.What a horrible tradgedy yet so many of us christians do the same thing today.Through faith in Jesus Christ alone the bible clearly shows that we are saved but we still choose to live as if we were unsaved. Why? Fear of the unknown and fear of change.Just as the slaves would have had to learn how to be citizens of the United States of America,they would have to take care of themselves for the first time in their lives,and be resposible for themselves.Noone would be to blame for their failures but themselves,(I'am speaking figuratively of course because we know our country continues to oppress the African American people to this day) but what I'am saying is that this news brought about such a complete change in the world of some people that it was to much for them or at least their fears made it to much for them.It is this same way for the lives of many christians today and throughout history,we are afraid of what it truly means to be free. There is an old saying that comes to mind right now,"ignorance is bliss." Alot of people live as if ignorance is bliss but that is a lie straight out of the pit. Not knowing all of the freedom God has designed for us is like winning the lottery and avoiding a phone call of one of the lottert officials trying to tell you how to claim your winnings.
O.K. I'am free from my sins I haven't learned much more than that yet and I have been afraid to but I want to know more about the freedom I'am supposed to be enjoying now.First of all we will not experience the freedom of God if we are lazy notice Jesus said 'if you hold on to my teaching,you are truly my disciples,then you will know the tuth and the truth will set you free.