Cost of Freedom

What is freedom?  To DC (our last dog), it was being out of his pen to "paint" every tire in the yard.  To the boys, it was a no school or work. The word "freedom" doesn't' begin to describe its real value, yet the word rolls off our tongues and slides from our lips with way too much ease. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men. Some names are well-known - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson - while others seemingly lost in history.  What about those other men who signed our Country's birth certificate? Five signers were captured as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, while another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  Never question the cost of freedom -- the price is always great.  The freedoms we share as Americans were literally paid for with courage, commitment, even blood of those whose weightier dreams of liberty. So it is with our spiritual freedom; the Cost is immeasurable and like no other.  It cost God His only Son.  Pure and unblemished, His desire that we be free outweighed the will of The Father and The Son's own life.  Mere hours before His death, Jesus said, "Not my will, Father, but thine be done."  He pledged His life His Godly honor for our eternal liberty.  Never forget: the cost of freedom is always great! ​