Freedom isn't FREE

Marshall Harris
Served on Sipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima

 This is my dad . . . a retired WWII verteran ... US Marine who served on Sipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. I believe he belongs to THE greatest generation of Americans in our country's history.  My sister and I watched him live out his life in memory of his fallen brothers in arms.  They had paid for our freedom with the price of their lives.  I was raised with the foundational belief that freedom wasn't free.  There is a cost involved.  Someone has to pay for it, and it is something to be thankful for.

The same thing is true about our spiritual freedom.  We are taught from Ephesians 2:8,9  that grace is a free gift to us.  

Free TO us, but it did cost God something.  

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

My response to this is thanks and awe.  It motivates me to live my life in response to that sacrifice in a way that honors God.  


One time I asked my dad, what his favorite verses in the Bible were.  He said, Matthew 5-7, the sermon on the mount . . . so I painted it for him.( Below )

Matthew 5

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them. He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.