THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Introduction

Independence is understood as a condition of a person, nation, country, and population or some portion thereof, exercising self-government and usually sovereignty. It is actually being free from the rule or authority of another. But "for all [of us have] sinned and fall short" and many have been addicted to one sin or the other. This is the worst kind of slavery. In addition, taking from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, 'our independence is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa.' Independence always has a link with superior power. Therefore, Independence without God takes us back to slavery.

God's Covenant

"Man is born free but everywhere is in chains" Rousseau. Without the Creator everywhere man turns to put her/him in chains. The Israelites have had their independence from the Egyptians and have reached the promised land. God completed this freedom in His covenant with them, that is circumcision (Joshua 5:2-8). After the covenant of circumcision, God made the declaration (or if you like,) an independence day statement saying, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Note this, the people were NOT free from the reproach, disgrace, authority, control, or suppression of Egypt until God established His covenant with them. We see their independence (rest) as they no more depended on the manna but 'ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain' (Joshua 5:11-12).

The apostle Paul brings us to this covenant (which was circumcision) and says, that reconciled the people of Israel to God and in our case, our death in Christ (2 Cor. 5:14,15). He emphasized that "if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the one has gone, the new is here!" (2 Cor. 5:17). Now, our independence is in our covenant with God through Christ Jesus not in circumcision as of old. Remember, our baptism in Christ is the Sacramentum with which God establishes the new covenant. It has now taken over the old covenant of circumcision.

Jesus calls on us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest [independence]. Take my yoke [covenant] upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest [independence] for your souls. For my yoke [covenant] is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) Christ's rest is the total independence from the reproach, authority, disgrace, control and suppression of Satan over your life.

Independence Without God

The younger son's request for his share in the estate is a sense of demanding independence (Luke 15:12). The father figure in the parable represents God, the younger son represents the unsaved and the older son represents the saved. The younger son felt he needed independence from the father [God] - not to be under all His 'thou shall not.' For him, the father's house impeded his freedom.

It is the same with us today, we desire the very things God ban us from doing and most of us feel we're enslaved by them. Adam and Eve did the same, they sought to be wise and free from God's laws. They ended up losing God's presence and rest in life and becoming slaves to Satan. The younger son ended up selling himself out as a slave. Your slavery is being under the control, suppression and authority of Satan. Being addicted to sin is being its slave.

God is with open alms looking forward to your coming back to Him. The younger son realized that his independence without the father [God] is actually slavery so he reasoned to go back (Luke 15:17-20). Precious one, if you will also make that bold decision today, that your quest of independence has actually made you a slave to sin, God will welcome dearly (Luke 15:21).

Agents of Independence

Beloved in Christ Jesus, after graciously reaching the light of Christ, God wants you to aid others to reach their independence too. "He has committed to us the message of reconciliation" and we have been made "Christ's ambassadors" on earth (2 Cor. 5:19,20).

Our independence is truly meaningless to the world unless it links others to also find it important to be independent through Christ. Jesus puts it as, "You are the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14)

As Christians, we must rejoice with repentant souls and welcome them as Christ welcomed us. When the older brother got angry for the welcoming of his younger brother, the father said to him, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." (Luke 15:31) Two things I learn from this statement;

1. You have always enjoyed my presence and have had rest.

2. You are heir to everything I have. If you had asked for what you are saying (Luke 15:29) you would have had it.

Christians must never be jealous of one another for any reason but rejoice for all who find God's light in Christ. Let us continue to build our faith as we bring others also into the marvelous light of God.

Amen.

Shalom aleichem...