Hollywood has produced many films over the years of great stories of men and women fighting tyranny for their freedom. One of the best of these tales is that of the Scottish Wars of Independence captured in Braveheart at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Although the movie is not for the faint in heart, there is a scene often used in media to rally the troops.

The Scots have all gathered to fight when they realize they are outmatched and begin to flee before the battle. Just as this occurs, William Wallace arrives on the scene and has an exchange with his fellow Scots.

William: I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?

Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.

Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!!!

Everyone goes nuts, the army starts screaming, life returns to the men, you jump off your couch ready to go to war yourself. The Scots go on and win that battle and eventual the war.

So fast forward to 2021 and on every street corner there are people standing on soapboxes shouting at tyranny and seeking freedom from oppressors. From age to age our freedom has been under siege. For some it is from the government, for others it is a system, others still it’s a cultural battle. All of these very real and progressive situations.

Over my life, I’ve experienced many evils through the hands of others. Control, abuse, gaslighting, lies and slander. Situations where I felt locked up and put in a box with my freedoms taken away. In the dark moments and the ongoing trauma that came afterwards, my heart lead me to the words of David “I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalms 34:4).

It was in this in the absolute truth of God’s Word that revelation was illuminated to me concerning the freedom I so desperately sought. There were 3 main things that Christ revealed to me, the first was “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). There is freedom in truth. It’s not complicated, it’s not “My Truth” or “Your Truth”, its’ simply “The Truth”. God’s Word and Himself (John 14:6), is “The Truth” is not up for debate and as I understood the source of truth being God alone…freedom came.

The second thing that I was drawn to was “For you were called to freedom brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) and “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King” (1 Peter 2:16). These both speak forth that our freedom is not to be used for our selfish ambitions but for serving and loving one another in the Fear of God with honour. Our freedom is not routed in earthly things but in the Kingdom of God. Which brings me to the last truth.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). This is the key to the whole thing, where God is present, freedom exists. The absence of Him, brings bondage. This is why Christ who had the Spirit of the Lord upon spoke “I have come proclaim the captives free, and to recovery the sight of the blind; to set at liberty the oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)

There is freedom where God’s Spirit is. God’s spirit lives in me. This tells me that my freedom, no matter what another has imposed upon me can never take my freedom because God almighty lives in ME…and where He dwells is freedom.

Today I celebrate my freedom and the Spirit of the Lord that is with me. May 21^st is “Freedom Day” and I celebrate the gifts of life that come with it.