Day 80 "Let Freedom Ring!"

I had never listened to nor read the speech delivered by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial back on August 28, 1963- that is, until today.

I was profoundly touched by the heart and compassion of this man, especially for his desire to one day see equality in all areas for the "Negro"- his words not mine- to be brought about by peaceful, non-violent ways, even in the midst of such hatred and injustice. And here we are today, 57 years later, still languishing under much of the same inequality, struggling with the same set of fears and biases, constrained from change by the unwillingness of so many of us to release ourselves from a "self-centered" spirit and mindset and relinquish any control over that which we considered to be ours- that which "is mine." And should we set aside time to reflect and scour over the last 57 years to seek understanding for the lack of change, I sense such efforts would prove futile and little resolution would take place for such causes will continue to be concealed and veiled from our eyes since they have less to do with the written word, what can be seen, and more to do with the condition of our hearts, which requires for us to look inward.

These type of changes cannot be embraced wholeheartedly through legislation. These changes cannot be brought about by outside force or seeking to change the mindset of a large group of people as if corralling them to accept a certain point of view which runs counterintuitive to one's own sense of being. The only way for real change to take place and take hold by the masses is for the heart of each man to be change-one person at a time. For that to occur, a radical provision will need to be put into place that will enable the hearts of many people to be changed without force or without mandate. Is it possible for such a provision to ever be put into place? The "good news" is, it has already been done!

Continuing to read through King's speech, it struck me, the similarities of what King was desiring and what Jesus Christ had put into place. Truly, the only thing that needs to be done is for man to embrace Jesus Christ by faith and to step aside from himself, and love his fellow man as he has already been loved by God. Join me as I take you through some of the highlights of King's speech.

King begins his speech with a proclamation: "that this gathering will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought together 250,00 people for the purpose of seeking equality and freedom. He made reference to the Emancipation Proclamation, signed into existence by Abraham Lincoln, "as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice."

I contend that Jesus Christ's declaration, "It is finished," was also a proclamation but on greater scale- a much, much larger scale!

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30

To come to an understanding of the realities that took place in the heavenly realm the day that Jesus' died on the cross, and realize the implications for personal freedom from condemnation from sin that Christ provided in the lives of every human being, is tantamount to another Emancipation Proclamation, only this one being much, much greater in its scope. Whereas Rev. King directed his comments for man to come to understanding with compassion to accept one another equally, Jesus sought a change inwardly in each person's heart which on a spiritual basis would position us equally with one another. King addressed his focus on those things around him which were temporary and worldly in nature, whereas Jesus address things on a spiritual, eternal plane changing our mindsets from seeing things as merely temporary and worldly to perceiving and understanding spiritual truths which would last forever. This change in not merely an opportunity, a gateway through which we can now approach God through more human effort to appease God. No, it is much better than that. This proclamation, the one that states, "It is finished," completely accomplishes the task for us-Jesus has taken life's test for us and completed the entire course with a perfect score on our behalf. Jesus did for us what we could not, nor ever could, do for ourselves. His righteousness, his holiness, was imparted into us and our unrighteousness, our sins, were imparted upon him. He paid the whole penalty for everything unrighteous that we would ever do: past, present, and future.

Jesus' death set us free from ourselves to think and live anew. The darkness and futility of legalism and performancism have been brought into the light and freedom in grace through God's love has now taken over to guide our footsteps. Now and forever. Through Jesus, the second covenant has been established and positioned for us by which we now liveby faith, apart from the law. (religious rules and regulation). Works, that which we do in the flesh, no longer is deemed necessary in the Christian walk. We have been set free from being slaves to sin in order to take hold of God's Spirit which declares that through Christ we are all God's children. The greatest factor capable of changing our hearts is love. And in God's unconditional love for us, all fears can be dismantled and done away with as we seek to love one another as God first loved us. Love in the only motivator strong enough and secure enough to build bridges of inclusion, laying down a firm foundation for brotherhood.

"He set aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Hebrews 10:10

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known."

Romans 3:21

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Romans 3:22

"He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

"Perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18

The Rev. King goes on to state: "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." (King)

Such words have apparently fallen on deaf ears and callous, selfish hearts over the years. It is unconscionable and unfathomable to see the inhumanity that man is capable of exercising over his fellow man. By what right can these atrocities take place? Is it not the selfishness and pride that blights the human heart, along with the greed and short-sighted-ness to fixate oneself on little else than making money, especially at the expense of others? "It is finished" sets up the framework through which God would send his Holy Spirit to come into the lives of every believer to convict and to transform the human heart and mindset from the inside outward, to bring about a new way of seeing things, to see from God's viewpoint.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love

one another." John 13:34

"then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:2-4

King goes on to say: "There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted citizenship rights." And adds, "The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges." (King)

"It is finished" was heralded by the Jesus, who was the light, himself.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all our mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

King states: "Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force." (King)

Jesus, in his comment, "It is finished," shows us the essence of soul force.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:39

King continues: "The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidence by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom." (King)

When Jesus said, "It is finished," his proclamation went forth throughout the lands that man is now able to be free from their sins and free from all condemnation that such sins envelops him.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set you free." Galatians 5:1

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather server one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14

King encourages: "Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive."

"It is finished" shows the epitome of suffrage and changes our understanding for righteous suffering and sets the example for the spiritual victory that has already been procured.

"“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

John 10:11

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:2

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:44

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors

doing that? Matthew 5:46

King envisions: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truth to be self-evident: that all me are created equal." (King)

"It is finished" establishes as fact that through Christ, all men are equal in God's sight.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had," Romans 15:5

"then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." Philippians 2:2

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:" Philippians 2:5

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters." Hebrews 2:11

King implores: "Let us not wallow in despair."

"It is finished" exemplifies the joy that can now be experienced in Christ. Evil has been defeated. The sting of death has been cast aside. Through Jesus, God's true nature has been revealed to us.

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

"Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" John 14:9

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation his being." Hebrews 1:3

King sees: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"It is finished" proclaims that we are now able to take on Christ's character for ourselves. Jesus has taken away any need to judge others. In Christ, we are now belong to one body.

"By this all men shall come to know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

"and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:24

"Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family." Hebrews 2:11

King foretells: "And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the worlds of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" (King)

"It is finished" brought forth a new covenant of freedom by which the ways of God, rather than being external regulations and rules binding us to live a certain way and condemning us for when we do not do so, are to written internally upon our hearts and in our minds. We are now to live our lives by faith, and faith alone.

"This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares

the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. Hebrews 8:10

I got a lot out of comparing these two proclamations. In summary, for me, all that has ever been preached through sermons or written down for the eyes to see throughout the ages concerning God's will and desire for us, can be summarized by one verse:

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

Jesus died to complete the opportunity for each of us to be made whole in him. Only when we are whole inside, absent of all fears, and feel totally accepted by God's unconditional love, can we lay down our worldly-shaped biases and embrace each other as equals with ourselves. Equality has nothing to do with the color of one's skin, but it has everything to do with the commonality of our hearts. Jesus made all things possible when he declared, "It is finished!" and then he died.

If you really want to join hands willingly with each other, then I would encourage you to join hands with Jesus and let him exchange his heart for yours.

The remarkable thing about freedom is when you feel absolutely free. For me, it was when I truly realize that Jesus did it all to make me holy and righteous before God. I added nothing nor do I bring anything to the equation. Jesus did it all. It amazes me to observe so many Christians seeking to be righteous and to do good guided by an underlying motive for trying to earn God's favor or prevent incurring his judgement when Jesus has already done it all already. We live by faith, now, not by works. It is in our faith, that we grow in our motivation to love. Jesus brings to the table the reality that I have already been made complete through him. When the Heavenly Father looks at me in Jesus, he see me just as he see his Son- one who has never sinned. This is why Romans 8:1 can state: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ." My heart leapt with joy and peace flooded my soul when I came to realize that I have been fully pardoned from any unrighteousness in my life-ever! My wholeness came through God's acceptance of me just as I am, knowing that he already knew all my faults and hidden closets and all the things I that I would ever do in the future, his love penetrated through my insecurities to set me free to see myself as he sees me. In that freedom, I have learned to love others. Like the old Negro spiritual, "I am free at last." Having been forgiven and loved so much, how can I not extend the same to my fellow man- no matter who that fellow man may be.

It is only when one looks with the heart can one see past the color of skin and the differences that tend to divide us from one another. The proclamation, "It is finished," assures us that through Christ's great sacrifice upon the cross, a way has now been made possible by which our hearts can be transformed into one that looks and acts like Christ's.

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"Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 4:21

May you continue to discover for yourself what Jesus meant when He said, "It is finished."

In his love, see you tomorrow....

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)