Perhaps you are not aware, but in biblical times, there was an emancipation of slaves and people who were in debt every fifty years. This proclamation of a fiftieth "liberty" year occurred on one of God's annual feast days known as the Day of Atonement. Because God owns everything, he set up a special, regularly occurring time period where His will is that a man's possessions are returned to him. It was known as the year of jubilee! All debts were forgiven and slaves were set free. Of course that was in biblical times, what about today? I thought you would never ask.
God still owns everything. There isn’t anything that God hasn’t made and loaned to us as temporary visitors on this planet. Have you ever thought about it this way? So if He owns everything, then does He own us? Well yes and no. As humans, (God’s special creation) we are given a free will. That is, a choice to decide as to whether we are to live for God who created us, or for ourselves. I imagine that you have heard the phrase, “Life is about choices.” Well this is a big one.
Doing things our own way is sinful in God’s eyes (and heart). When we live according to our own desires, we are telling God no, and in doing so it separates us from Him. The more that we do this, the farther away from God we become until there is a point where we are a slave to this way of life. I used to smoke cigarettes and the longer I smoked, the more addicted I became. Saying I could quit was one thing, but actually pursuing it and quitting was a completely different matter! This is similar to living apart from God. The hard part is that unlike a slave owned by cigarettes or a human master, we often don’t even realize that we ARE enslaved. The world around us says that this lifestyle is ok, but if we search our hearts, we know it’s wrong. Occasionally we may recognize this and perhaps say, “Someday I will do what God wants” but that, “someday” gets farther and farther away, until…
Jesus came and died so that we can be set free from this slavery in our heart. He said Himself when He walked on this earth, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Luke 4:18). These words are just as relevant to you today as they were when Jesus spoke them over 2000 years ago. Jesus is God’s Emancipation Proclamation. Today can be your day. This can be YOUR year of Jubilee. If you choose to be set free. Something to think about…
My wife has not spoken to me in three days. I think it has something to do with what happened on Sunday night when she thought she heard a noise downstairs. She nudged me and whispered, “Wake up, wake up!” “What’s the matter?” I asked. “There are burglars in the kitchen. I think they’re eating the tuna casserole I made tonight.” “That’ll teach them!” I replied.
God wants to speak to you any time. Come and experience Him more. Lighthouse of Faith, 141 E.Main St. Canton (across from Acorn Mkt.) Services are Sun. at 10:30 am. Call 570-673-5912 or visit www.lighthousecanton.com Until next time, look up and smile!