Four-Wheeling

There’s just something about driving a four-wheeler,

plowing through tall, lush grass,

the sun at your back, the wind in your face, bugs flying in your teeth,

fording creeks,

racing over flower-studded hills,

scaring deer out of their hidden bowers, 

Freedom.

I'm not sure that I can explain the joyous feeling, especially after spending most of last year in a library, in a city, surrounded by walls, pavement, and people.  It's not bad, but I think maybe a little part of my souls sort of shrivels up and hides in a corner until I return to the wilderness, and then it comes out and revels in the freedom - the silence, the stillness, the lack of roads or boundaries.  It's glorious.


And it's a reminder that true freedom is not a function of where a person lives: city or country, America or Israel.

John 8:31-34

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:5-7, 15-23
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!  Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.