Or, at least I had a dream. Last night. You know, while I was sleeping.

(You thought this was going to be about Martin Luther King, Jr., didn’t you?)

I dreamed that I was in a maximum security prison. Weird, huh? It was also awful. And scary. And I missed my family with such a ferocity that I didn’t know if I’d make it through.

I spent the whole of the dream trying to figure out why I was there. I didn’t seem to remember any sort of trial or conviction, and no one could tell me the length of my sentence. It was a nightmare in every sense of the word.

I have no idea why I had the dream. I don’t really feel “trapped” in any area of my life, right now, but we do feel that way sometimes, don’t we? Maybe in a job, or relationship, or situation? Sometimes we can even feel trapped in a prison of our own making, surrounded by steel bars of guilt and shame.

But that’s not what God had in mind when He sent His Son from heaven to tear down those walls. He didn’t sacrifice His own Son for us to remain trapped.

No.

It’s because of that sacrifice – when we accept it for the gift it is – that we can lay down the guilt and shame at the foot of that bloody cross, and walk away.

Light.

Clean.

Singing loud and clear to all who would hear…

‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’

(Huh. Maybe it was a little bit about Martin Luther King, Jr., after all…or at least appropriate for his day.)

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  ~ John 10:10 ESV