I was so relieved when I got the call. Someone had found my sweet little Austie, but she was being held in doggy jail! It had only been 24 hours since that fateful moment when I had opened the door, and she took off running past me, through the door, and into what she thought was her pathway to freedom. Her carefully thought out plan was finally put into action.
I am sure she found pleasure for awhile in roaming through the neighborhood and freely sniffing all the yucky things dogs love to sniff without someone pulling on her leash. I can picture her prancing proudly past all her captive dog friends behind fences, while she pompously waved her cute little plume tail in the breeze. Perhaps she discovered some appetizing delicacies in the nearby trash cans or some splintering chicken bones that no one would take away from her. How sweet the taste of freedom!
That is, until she discovers that she is all alone with no one to protect her, feed her, or to snuggle with her at night when she is cold or afraid. I can imagine what a long night that must have been for her, trying to find her home, or at least some shelter from the cold and the rain. Did she hide under someone’s porch? Maybe someone would kindly take her in and keep her warm and safe.
Oh how I prayed for her that night! My kids and I scoured the neighborhood, frantically hollering for her and promising her all the bones and treats she could ever want if she would just come back. We did not sleep well that night worrying about her, and I wondered how she liked her freedom now.
When I got the call the next day from “jail” letting us know they had found our weary little pup, we shouted and danced and rejoiced as if we were all prisoners being released from prison. The kids and I jumped into the car and sped to Austie’s rescue. As we walked into the building of her captors, this pooch who thought she had found her freedom was confined to a cold and lonely cage, looking as pitiful as can be. When she saw us, her tail waved frantically, and she pounded her paws at the door of the cage trying to get to us. Once she was released, she flew toward us and greeted us with wild doggy kisses. We celebrated the happy homecoming with a trip to Petsmart so she could pick out any bone on display that she wanted.
Austie with our grandson, Parker
As I held her in my lap that evening and lovingly stroked her long, silky hair, I whispered a prayer of thanks to God for bringing her back home quickly. I contemplated the events of the past 24 hours and began to understand some astounding correlations between my pup’s adventure and our lives as Christians.
Austie did not understand why we kept her inside of a fence or tied to a leash whenever she was outside. To her, we were holding her back from what she wanted to do. Like any other dog, she wanted to run free! We could not communicate to her in a way she would understand that we were really protecting her. She did not know the dangers that lurked at her from every angle; she had to learn to trust that we were doing only what was best for her.
Isn’t that like us sometimes? We want to do what we want to do without worrying about the consequences. We may not understand why certain restrictions are necessary, and we especially don’t want rules to get in the way of our freedom. Doesn’t culture tell us to do what feels good? To indulge ourselves with anything we desire and to ignore uptight, old-fashioned, straight-laced values? To grab as much as we can out of life and to throw away anything that holds us back? Who likes to be told what to do or not to do?
Since Galatians 5:1 says that we are free, doesn’t that entitle us to live any way we want?
“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5:1 MSG
The misunderstanding here is that some interpret this verse to mean that we can live without any restraints, to simply do as we please. However, just as Austie learned in this story, true freedom comes only within certain confines. Freedom is not a license to indulge ourselves or throw all caution to the wind. On the contrary, God has laid out the very best life possible for us in His Word, and ultimate freedom is enjoyed only within those guidelines.
As Austie discovered, her happiest days are when she obeys us and stays within the boundaries we have set for her. She has all the love, food, water, fun, protection, warmth, toys, bones, treats, etc. she could ever want. Outside of that, where she thought she would find freedom, she found darkness, loneliness, cold, hunger, thirst, and more restriction than she had before. Her version of freedom was not what she thought it was cut out to be.
Similarly with us, God’s ways are not outdated restrictions that He uses to imprison us or to cause us to miss out on an exciting and full life. He is not withholding anything at all from us that is for our good, but He has something far better for us. God’s Word lights our path so we can avoid the land mines of life and experience real freedom.
There is no way around the fact that we will certainly reap what we sow. Consequences always accompany our choices. God gave us His Word to keep us within the navigational buoys so that we will not be harmed or destroyed by the jagged rocks in our way. He also gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us. He continually nudges our hearts in the right direction, if we will only yield.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13 NLT
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NLT
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way;walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7 NIV
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians 5:16 NLT
Living a life within God’s boundaries is not about following a list of rules. We are free from the law. Rather, it is about yielding our hearts in obedience to His Word and employing discipline and self-control in our lives. That is God’s plan to help us establish healthy margins that protect our freedom. Without these virtues, we are like a city whose walls are broken down and vulnerable to attack. Instead, we can shake off the weights that are holding us back and learn to tell ourselves “No” when we crave something that is not beneficial to us.
Will I eat this entire pan of brownies? No! I do not want the restriction of poor health, extra weight, or lack of energy. I want my body to function at its maximum potential.
Will I spend unlimited time on social media? No! I do not want to miss out on family time, be unproductive, or have “mush brains.”
Will I let this mess pile up while I go and do something else I would rather do? No! I do not want to live in a sloppy, uncomfortable, or embarrassing home. I want an environment that is relaxing and enjoyable to my entire family.
Will I skip my workout today and lie on the couch instead? No! I don’t want to be fat, unhealthy, or feel terrible. I want to be fit and energetic to fully enjoy life.
You see? Discipline and self-control are our very good friends, and they will lead us on the path to true freedom. Learn Austie’s lesson: When we seek freedom without limitations, we actually find ourselves in captivity. When we yield to God-given guidelines for our lives, we will find the ultimate freedom we really wanted all along!
“We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life.” Titus 2:12 MSG
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28 NLT
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 NLT
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:11 NLT
“He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.” Proverbs 5:23 NLT
Here’s to true freedom and learning to live in the confines of God’s very best for us!
God bless!
