Thank You, Jesus

What is freedom?  To our last dog, DC, it was being out of his pen to "paint" every tire in the yard.  The word "freedom" doesn’t’ begin to describe its true value, yet the word rolls off our tongues with way too much ease. Do you know ... The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men. Some names well known in American history - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson - other names not so well-known. Have you ever wondered what happened to those others men who signed our Country's certificate of birth?  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 questioning the cost of freedom -- the price of it is always great.  The freedoms we share as Americans were literally paid for with courage, commitment, and blood of men whose dreams of liberty far outweighed their own lives.  So it is with spiritual freedom;  the Cost is immeasurable ... like no other.  It cost God something extremely precious: His only Son, Jesus.  Pure and unblemished, His desire that we be eternally free far outweighed His own life.  There in the Garden, He spoke our words of liberty, "Not my will, Father, but Thine be done."  He pledged His life, His divinity, and His Godly honor for our liberty.  Lest we forget, the cost of freedom is always great as is our salvation ... thank You, Jesus!