By Kingsley Baehr
During a one-week stay in New Hampshire, everywhere I looked, I saw 'Live Free or Die. It is the official state motto adopted in 1945 as a result of a written toast in 1809 by the state’s most famous Revolutionary War general, John Stark, who was unable to attend an anniversary celebration of the Battle of Bennington.
Here was his toast: “Live free or die: death is not the worst of evils.”
It speaks of the fiercely independent spirit of the American people which initiated the war for independence and which is still prevalent in American thinking.
But I would challenge you to consider this statement on a much deeper level, one that places every one of us in a life or death dilemma.
Consider what Jesus Christ said:
Here was his toast: “Live free or die: death is not the worst of evils.”
It speaks of the fiercely independent spirit of the American people which initiated the war for independence and which is still prevalent in American thinking.
But I would challenge you to consider this statement on a much deeper level, one that places every one of us in a life or death dilemma.
Consider what Jesus Christ said:
“And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32
and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32
And exactly what truth is that?
“If the Son [referring to Himself]
shall make you free,
you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36
“If the Son [referring to Himself]
shall make you free,
you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36
And how is Jesus Christ able to do that?
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
John 14:6a
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
John 14:6a
The Truth is Jesus Christ, and the Life is Jesus Christ, so obviously He is the only Way to Truth and eternal Life. And therefore He is the only One Who can free us from a false idea of what “living free” means and the impending eternal death that awaits everyone who chooses some other way.
“No one comes to the Father
but throughMe.” John 14:6b
but throughMe.” John 14:6b
If you choose not to live free from slavery to sin and the certainty of eternal sep-aration from a Holy God, then you will die.
Death means separation, and eternal death means eternal separation from the God from Whom you have “lived free” during your earthly existence.
Is that what you want? Then God will give it to you. But if that is not what you want, then Jesus Christ is your only hope of true freedom, freedom to serve Him and discover how freeing that can be!
Death means separation, and eternal death means eternal separation from the God from Whom you have “lived free” during your earthly existence.
Is that what you want? Then God will give it to you. But if that is not what you want, then Jesus Christ is your only hope of true freedom, freedom to serve Him and discover how freeing that can be!
Live free in Christ
or die and discover that death without Christ
truly is the worst of evils.
or die and discover that death without Christ
truly is the worst of evils.