The Smell of Freedom
Throughout American history symbols of freedom have taken different forms. The majority would say the American flag or the Statue of Liberty[1] are the most iconic of these symbols.
But what would be your personal symbol of freedom?
As I pondered this question for myself, the picture of a tree came to mind…a fruit tree.
I had never seen a peach orchard in person before that day. Now as an adult, I couldn’t believe that the peaches I had bought at the supermarket for years had this hidden life before being plucked from the tree. The grove was picturesque that morning, with puffy clouds overhead and the sweet hum of birds and bees.
It was the breeze that stopped me in my tracks.
The aroma of newly ripened peaches swept past my face. A peach tree would be my personal symbol of freedom. Yes, it would make perfect sense to me to find freedom under a tree.
Originally, it was under a tree that paradise was lost, liberty vanished. It was through the theft of Adam and Eve that a vulnerable humanity stepped into a cursed world as slaves to sin. For whatever we obey we become a slave to.
The Bible tells us:
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16
We all have felt the physical toll sin takes on our bodies. The pit in our stomachs when we’ve spoken out of turn, injuring another person. The heaviness we’ve felt from a guilty conscience keeping us up at night.
Sin is a terrible taskmaster. When we yield an inch, it takes a mile.
What is worse is that from childhood, this automatic default setting has pulled us deeper and deeper into sin’s clutches. Whether it was the offenses we committed or the crimes of others’ depravity, it has left us in a terrible state of slavery.
When we serve this evil master of sin, we receive payment in the form of death.
How do we know what sin is exactly? The Torah of truth spells it out plainly. The law given through Moses became a tutor, showing us our great need for freedom from sin’s curse.
Galatians 3:23-24 tells us,
“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until [Messiah] came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
The law became like a mirror. Our appearance…our real state, is reflected to us in God’s moral code. It is painful to observe. When all our defenses come down and falsehood is brought into the light, it is a holy moment of exposure.
We have a choice.
To run away from God because of our shame and continue in the enslavement of sin.
To run to the One who became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21).
The Good News is this:
“[Messiah Jesus] redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” Galatians 3:13 (quoting from Deuteronomy 21:23)
“In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
All my attempts at saving myself and living a good life fall short. I’ve tried to fix myself – to no avail. I needed someone outside my depravity to rescue me and He did. My cry for rescue reached the ears of the Almighty.
He sent me His Son as payment for my sin and it’s through His death on a tree and resurrection from the grave that I was made alive.
Now today when sin wants to overrun my life, I am reminded that Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), has rendered sin and death obsolete. His Spirit now lives in me as temple for His presence. The work He is doing in my life is like a beautiful fruit tree. I am connected to the source of life and He is producing fruit, proof of His great presence in me.
Yes, a fruit tree is my symbol of freedom because I was freed from sin when He hung on a tree; I was made alive in Him when He rose from the grave. The work of His Spirit enables me to produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, to the glory of God (Galatians 5:22-23).
It is a glorious gift He has given.
Yes, freedom smells like the aroma of sweet fruit.
Written by Kori, Life in Messiah staff
What is your personal symbol of freedom?
Have you experience the freedom from sin (aka not measuring up) that Messiah Yeshua provided on the tree?
For continued reading on freedom, check out this devotional: https://www.insearchofshalom.com/all/encouragementfromexodus/exodus-devotion23
Endnotes:
[1] The Statue of Liberty stands 305 feet above the New York skyline as a symbol of freedom. Its original intended recipient refused the gift. Ironically when Egypt refused the symbol of freedom and enlightenment, France repackaged it and regifted it to America. Now it stands offering the gift of freedom to all who come to take refuge.