Set Free

Professor MacDonald, of a university in Glasgow, Scotland, and a Scottish chaplain were captured by the Germans in World War II. For some reason, McDonald was put into the American compound, while the Scottish chaplain was put in the British compound. A high wire fence separated the two compounds.

Unknown to the German guards, the Americans had constructed a little homemade radio, by which they were able to get news from outside. Everyday, MacDonald would listen to the news on the radio, then go to the fence and share it with the chaplain in the ancient Gaelic language, which none of the Germans could understand.

One day, news came over the little radio that the German high command had surrendered to the Allies and that the war was over. MacDonald took the news to his friend, then watched him disappear into the barracks. A moment later, a roar of celebration resounded from the barracks.

Life in that camp was transformed. The prisoners walked around, singing and shouting joyfully. They waved at the guards and even laughed at the guard dogs. Three nights later when the German guards finally heard the news, they fled into the dark, leaving the gates unlocked. The next morning, the British and American P.O.W.'s walked out as free men, however, they were truly set free three days earlier by the news that the war was over. For three days they walked and talked as free men.

We are told in Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV):

"Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

The Christian is already free from the fear of death, and is therefore free to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, without any fear of what Satan might do. The devil is a defeated enemy, and death is but a sleep for the one who is in Christ. And even though we aren't in heaven yet, we know the outcome of the war. Should we walk and talk as if were are already free through Jesus? - Pastor Danny

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