Do we really realize on a daily basis the freedoms that we are allowed? Do we take advantage of the freedoms that we, as Americans, are given to live our lives in pretty much any way we want? Do we realize that those freedoms also extend to our relationship with God and that there are people and countries that don't have the freedom that we have and we and take for granted?
I was trying to catch up on my reading today at lunch, because once again I am behind, and spent a good deal of time reading through Exodus in my bible. We all know the story of Exodus mostly thanks to Charlton Heston and his performance in the 10 Commandments. But have you ever spent time actually reading the book, studying the story as it is written? I was reading about God speaking to Moses while he is up on the mountain giving him all the rules on how the arc of the covenant is to be built, how the curtains are to be woven and sown and to what dimensions and then how they are to be attached, how every piece of wood is to be cut and with what metal it is to be covered, how every garment is to be made and which are to have stones on them and how they are to be engraved to represent the 12 tribes, exactly how they are to enter and which animals are to used for sacrifices and what part is to be burnt there and what parts are to be removed and burnt. Everything is in exact detail down to who can enter, what their clothes are to look like, who is to wear what and if the wrong person enters and does not perform the exact ritual in the correct order he will be killed. It is very detailed and I have no idea how they ever remembered it all without cliff notes or something to remind them. But that God, literally, that we don't have to deal with that. Our freedom is such a blessing and I am not sure that I have ever truly realized it before today while reading that passage. We can pick up a bible and read it whenever and wherever we want. If you don't have one, there are programs and organizations that will give you one, or you can pick one up at most Christian bookstores for as little as $5 these days. It is amazing the freedom we have with no threat that we might be harmed or worse for the simple act of reading a bible in public. We have churches on every corner in every city, there are meetings and programs run by those churches on almost every night of the week with outreach programs. The list goes on and on. But still do we realize our freedom?
I was looking through a travel advisory today for a visit to Saudi Arabia for someone at my office who will be traveling later this month. The advisory, I suppose, is what really got this whole thought process going. To visit that country you are not allowed to take a bible or even wear a cross to show your love for a God that has sacrificed everything to give us these freedoms. Anything depicting the Christian religion is strictly forbidden. It did not say what the punishment would be if found, but I cannot think it would be pleasant. I know that they have a different set of beliefs, but at least in our country you are allowed to have a different belief and not fear persecution and or death for displaying it. With everything going through my head as of late, and all the static that I just can't shift through, the one thing that has remained constant is God. No matter what I might be dealing with, or not dealing with whatever the case may be, God is always there. I can turn to my bible and I can read and He gives me wisdom to make it through that moment. I can go to church and I don't have some archaic set of rules to follow before entering, He just meets me there no matter how I show up whether it be happy, sad, broken or hurting and I always leave in a better place than I showed up through the blessing of His grace and mercy. I have the freedom to read my bible, wear a shirt that may have a bible verse on it, or post a bible verse on facebook because it spoke to me and I felt it might be of benefit to others in some way. God provided a way for us to enter into His kingdom no matter where we are or what we have going on, and I am going to remind myself every day to be thankful for living in a country where I can be me and love God openly as much as He loves me.
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