Freedom in Restrictions

I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it is true. If we did not have rules, laws and restrictions to abide by, our freedom would be limited. I was reading in a book about this very point. The reason freeways are free is because we have traffic laws. These laws give us the ability to quickly and efficiently get where we need to go. When people do not abide by the rules, accidents and jams happen and chaos ensues. I see this play out in the driving here. This country has traffic laws (I am pretty sure), but no one follows them because they are not enforced. As a result, people can drive anywhere and however they want. Mix this with our sinful human nature ("me first" attitude) and you get very chaotic and awful driving conditions. There are no lanes, so people just drive where they please, dodging and cutting from one side of the road to another. Stop lights aren't obeyed, so people cut each other off to get where they want to go. The bigger your vehicle is, the more leverage and "freedom" you have. This "freedom" in driving, reduces speed because you are always having to dodge other vehicles and other pedestrians. Therefore, traveling is not quick and definitely not efficient.

God's Law works in the same way. God gives us rules to obey and commands to follow. When we heed His Word, blessings ensue and we have more freedom to live the life He intended. On the other hand, if we disobey His Word and choose to do our own thing, we fulfill our selfish ambition and desires, but then we are a slave to whatever consequences that entails.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16

Christ Jesus has set us (who follow Him) free from the Law through His death and resurrection. By doing so, He allows and empowers us to have a relationship with our Creator God and to live in a away that both satisfies Him and our God-given moral consciences.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you1 free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2