For the longest time in my Christian walk, I don’t think I understood what it meant to find freedom in Christ. For me, and maybe for many of you, Christianity was more of a “do” faith than a “done” faith. I would go to church, and I would be involved with events going on within the church. I made sure that I was “good” and tried not to do anything that would mess up my reputation. I put on a good face and an image of something that was only real on the surface, but deep down there was a much greater battle going on within. It seemed to be that for me I found more identity in trying to be good than I did finding identity in Christ.
When we live in a faith that continues to be about us doing good, this inevitably forces us to focus on the things that are bad. What I mean by this is that for instance when you become so consumed with not sinning, it is sin that becomes the focus of your faith. Now, this is not to say that we should not strive to be holy and not sin, but I am saying that instead of allowing yourself to and what you do be the center of your faith, instead allow Christ and the one who as already done be the center of your faith. There is freedom found in having Christ be at the heart of all of our thoughts, words, and actions. It is impossible for you to find this freedom when you are trying to create freedom for yourself.
By letting Christ give you freedom you then begin to become more understanding of what it means to be a new creation in Christ. You are now no longer working and trying to be something that appears to be good, but you are now finding rest in understanding that the focus is always on Christ and not on self. In this freedom is the producing of joy, peace, comfort, understanding, satisfaction and hope. We find joy now knowing that Christ has already done the work and appeased God with sacrifice on the cross. The work that Christ did is and was enough. In freedom finds rest, rest in the work of Jesus Christ.
It can be scary to let God invade your life and take over, but I ask aren’t you tired? Aren’t you sick of living a life that is you continuing to work, try, and attempt to be and do something you were never going to be able to do? I was at this point and began to realize that I will only ever find true freedom when I rest in the arms of Jesus knowing that He has done more than I could ever do. Are you living in a “do” faith where you are continually doing and trying, or are you living in a “done” faith where you let the finished work of Christ be the guiding light of your life? There is freedom found in living in the “done” trust in Him and find the freedom you have been seeking for.