As we walk down the Bangla Street, we are constantly confronted hearing: ‘Ping Pong’, ‘Buy 1 Get 1’, ‘A Go Go’ and ‘Free Show‘
as they are holding a flyer with a half naked woman on it posing in a sexual position. I began to ponder the word free in that moment. I remember reading something as I was growing up, that nothing ever is truly free, there is always a cost to someone. If you were to go to a career fair, getting ‘free’ pens may cost you nothing, but it cost the company money to purchase the pens. Similarly, when you request a ‘free sample’ of ice cream, you are blessed with the sample, yet the company is losing their product (unless you make a purchase).
as they are holding a flyer with a half naked woman on it posing in a sexual position. I began to ponder the word free in that moment. I remember reading something as I was growing up, that nothing ever is truly free, there is always a cost to someone. If you were to go to a career fair, getting ‘free’ pens may cost you nothing, but it cost the company money to purchase the pens. Similarly, when you request a ‘free sample’ of ice cream, you are blessed with the sample, yet the company is losing their product (unless you make a purchase). So how free is it here when they are advertising a ‘Free Show’? It may be free for the viewer, yet who is paying for it? The answer is the women (or who ever is putting on the show). They have lost their hope, identidy, self esteem, confidence, pride and self worth. They are sold and forced into a world that is free for everyone else except for themselves. They do as they are told with little enthusiam.
But what does true freedom look like? Whom is it given to and who did it cost? We see in the bible that Jesus gave us complete freedom through the giving of his blood on the cross. Through his death on the cross, it released us from the slavery of sin. We are no longer held captive to sin. It is for everyone who chooses to believe. There is now no comdendation (Romans 8:1) from sin. We are free. Yet this freedom came with a cost. God needed to give up his only son for us. Without this sacrifice, we would still be living in bondage and captivity.
If you have not experiened complete freedom in Christ Jesus, the invitation is open to you. It is simple. First, Admit that you have done wrong and that you cannot live this life on your own anymore. Then Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised from the dead. Then finally Confess. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I can personally say that your life will never be the same again. The way in which you see the world, think, speak and act will transform. You will have hope, unconditional love and most of allFREEDOM.
