"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18

From the very beginning God has granted man a free will even though He counsels us to trust in Him and His wisdom rather than in ourselves. The desire to be free is in the heart of every man, yet few have lived in a free society. On the other hand, Satan wants to enslave. He entices every person to sin which replaces freedom with bondage.

The Bible says that sin easily entangles us and that those who practice sin become slaves to their ungodly lusts. Jesus came to offer freedom and liberty for all. He came to destroy the works of the devil, to shatter the bonds which bind us, and to tear down his strongholds. Simply put, freedom is a gift from God and freedom lost results in bondage to an evil taskmaster.

This is how Satan’s kingdom operates. Most of histories governments have mirrored this kingdom of darkness. Those in power have most always become oppressors of their citizens. When the people complained they simply crushed them with their own military. Perhaps there is nothing so much a contradiction as a military being used to destroy the citizens it exists to protect.

God created us because He wanted a family. This is why He calls those who choose to follow His way His children. John wrote, -"See how great a love the Father has for us in that He has called us children of God. And indeed we are. It has not yet appeared what we shall be, but when He appears we shall be as He is." (1 Jo.3) This is the wonderful purpose for our existence, but we can say no. God will not force us to love Him or force us to receive His love.

 

Since the first sin in Eden man has continued to rebel against God, and for the very purpose for which He created us for. As a result we have all been enslaved to sin and oppressed by the devil. But Jesus came to set the captives free and to set free those who are oppressed. He came to pay our debt and release us from the penalty of our crimes against a holy God. Let us receive His sacrifice with a grateful heart and choose life in Christ’s kingdom of Light.