I was reading Galatians 2 & 3 this morning and God was really speaking to me about the truth of who we are because of faith. He was showing me the freedom that we have in Christ since we have now been set free from the law, meaning we have been set free from trying to work our way to Heaven by following rules and regulations. Galatians 3:6-9 talks about Abraham and how he gained righteousness way before their was a law (way before Moses came and brought The 10 Commandments) simply because he believed God and acted on that belief (had faith). Galatians 3:6 (AMP) says, “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose-so it is with you also].
Because of this belief and acting on that belief, righteousness was demonstrated on the earth. This righteousness was pure because it was not of a sinful man, but of God, because of man’s trust and reliance on Him. This was a righteousness not only assessable to the Jews who would receive the law through Moses, but to all mankind if they would simply have faith. This is why Galatians 3: 8 said of Abraham, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” In him, all nations were given access to God through faith.
God then began to give me an illustration of the bondage one lives in without faith and the freedom they have with it. Galatians 3:12 (AMP) shows clearly the bondage of sin stating, “But the Law does not rest on or require faith [it has nothing to do with faith], but [instead, the Law] says, ‘He who practices them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [instead of faith].”
It then goes on to illustrate the freedom found in our faith in Jesus Christ stating, “Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us-for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)'”.
God then gave me a vision of a drawing of Jesus standing in what appeared to be a circus setting in front of a ticket booth holding out money with his hole pierced hands. Behind the ticket booth the scene was in grayscale, dark and dreary. It depicted death and there were multiple cages upon cages, upon cages filled with people who looked hopeless. Each cage had a sign stating the bondage the members were enslaved to such as sexual immorality, pornography addiction, drug addiction, lust, selfishness, etc.
Behind Jesus, the scene was vibrant and full of life and color. There were tons of people behind him smiling, looking alive and enjoying life. This was depicting the people whom Jesus had already purchased and set free.
What an amazing way to depict the freedom Christ brings through that which He suffered. One thing that stood out to me about those in the cages of bondage is that the locks on the cages were already unlocked. They had the abilty to walk in freedom had they so chosen, but they weren’t aware of that so Christ came to give them the realization of that freedom because He is just that kind. Galatians 3:14 (AMP) speaks to this stating, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.”
Last thing, I started to think about the fact that recently when I added insurance coverage for the agency to my policy the agent spelled the name of the agency wrong (He spelled the agency: Zoe Mental Holeness Clinic missing the “W” in Wholeness) and it irked me a little because I thought, “now I have to take more time out to call them back and correct this.” After seeing this picture of Christ this morning and his hole pierced hands holding out the money to help those trapped in bandage to see that their freedom had been purchased I thought to myself, “Dag on, now I’m going to have to change the spelling of the agency name alltogether.” LOL I don’t think I’ll do that, at least not yet, but what an amazing way to look at everything I know God wants from this agency. For His children to walk in the freedom that His holes provided. Simply amazing.