Freedom!

This video last for about six minutes - but be patient: it's worth the wait!

Okay - what did you just watch? Did you see nothing but a bird thinking about flying; eventually setting off; and then landing again? If that is the case, then you missed so much!

You see, the experience of that Great Condor is a picture of human beings. I believe that the bird was born in captivity; reached maturity in captivity; and was in bondage until someone set it free. However, it didn't immediately fully appreciate its freedom. It stepped around; it spread its wings; it seemed to think about launching forth - but then decided against it. However, it did, eventually, take off - and discovered that it was born to be free! It then soared up into the sky until it decided to land away from the humans who were capturing its every move on cameras.

You and I are born in the captivity of sin. The psalmist-king, David, may not have gained a medical degree from some prestigious university, but he knew that "... in sin did my mother conceive me." (Ps. 51:5). In other words, he knew that, from the moment of conception, every human being is a sinner. 

Worse than that - just like the bird, there is nothing that we, ourselves, can do about our sorry situation. My sin creates a great gulf between me and Father God - and I can never bridge that gap. Praise God, then, that He has already done for each one of us, what we could not do for ourselves - He has paid the penalty for your sin and mine when, in the Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on 'The Trinity' in my book Great Words of the Faith) of the Son, He hung on a cross and actually became sin (see II Cor.5:21) for us! Sin, in all of its blackness, and foulness, and vileness. 

When I accept that I am a sinner, and can do nothing in my own strength about my sin; and when I accept that Jesus has done all for me; then I may respond, through faith, to that truly amazing grace. I am released from the bondage of sin; I am no longer in captivity. However, it does take time for me to even begin to fully realise the freedom that is now mine. I step around; I tentatively spread my spiritual wings; and then - I experience the real joy of knowing that I am no longer under condemnation, because I am "in Christ" (Rom.8:1) and, even greater wonder, I have the Saviour in me (Col.1:27)!

This all means that my eternal destiny is secure. Oh, I will slip, and fall; I will make mistakes; I will even be rebellious at times. Being in this mortal body means that I shall never be sinless in this life - but, by His continuing grace, I may sin less! Then, the day will come when "... the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air ; and so we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thess 4:16-17).

In the 18th century, Augustus Montague Toplady wrote the well-know hymn "Rock of Ages". The last verse refers to that great event:

"While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar through tracts unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee" (emphasis added)

The Gaither Vocal Band (the best-ever line-up!) also refer to that wonderful moment in the song below. May all who read this post be among to those who will, one day, "be learning to fly"!