Freedom Isn't Free

A trip to Philadelphia would be incomplete without a trip to Independence Mall and the site of the Liberty Bell.  One of my favorite images at the monument was this image of “Liberty” being spelled in many different languages at the site of the bell.  It stood out to me the moment I saw it and warmed me with a sense of inclusiveness for all of God's people.   Interestingly enough, at least one of my classmates was being moved by a very different image at the same time.

There are some moments after you share a time such as this trip that you just don’t forget.   One of those moments was when one of my classmates, Jessie, shared in her sermon about seeing the photo of the Native American, Chief Little Bear, posing with the famous bell.  She was overcome with emotion when reflecting upon the sadness of Chief Little Bear’s face.  Jessie’s sermon that day was on “Scriptural Christianity”, a sermon written by John Wesley that was quite controversial at the time.  Overall the message of the sermon was brought home by my new friend's emotional response to seeing the image below at the site of the Liberty Bell.  It brings to the fronts of our minds that freedom in our country and freedom in this life is not free.  Christ gave his life for us so that we may have eternal life (John 3:16).  We are sadly reminded by this image and the sadness of this Native American’s face that freedom is far from being free both in this life and in the life to come.

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