“Whatever controls us is really our god. . . . The one who seeks power is controlled by power. The one who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people he or she wants to please. We do not control ourselves. We are controlled by the lord of our life.”- Rebecca Pippert, Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World (1999)
“Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them.”- Colossians 2:14-15 (NIV)
Timothy Keller continues Chapter 2 of Hope in Times of Fear as he talks about three freedoms of the kingdom of God.
1. Freedom from the fear of guilt and shame. The resurrection sends a power signal to our consciences that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the full penalty of our sin. Thus, it brings us a freedom the cross by itself couldn’t give us. In addition, to the degree you live in awareness that the Father sees you as a treasure, to that degree you’re freed from shame from anything in your past. Because your past is not match for the grace of God.
2. Freedom from the fear of death. Above all, Pastor Keller observes, the resurrected Christ gives us a look at our own future resurrected selves. Also, His rising from the dead guarantees and proves this will be our future too.
Furthermore, even physical death fails to separate us from the love of God. Instead, death infinitely enhances our experience of the love and joy of God’s presence.
3. Freedom from other authorities that would enslave us. Finally, Pastor Keller states, the apostle Paul’s reference to a ‘public spectacle’, according to most commentators, refers to the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
And the ‘powers and authorities’ = the kingdoms of false gods to whom we look for significance, meaning, and security. Therefore, the cross frees us in principle from these idols. However, the resurrection provides the power we need to live this freedom in practice.
Today’s question: Do you agree with Rebecca Pippert that we find ourselves controlled by the lord of our life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Virtual bank account of righteousness?”
