Free as the Breeze

Darkness, misery, stench, abandonment, pain…a few descriptive words that Peter must have felt as he awaited King Herod’s orders for execution. An ancient Roman prison cell may be one of the foulest places in history to await a tortuous death, and that is exactly where Peter, the leading voice of the budding Jerusalem church, finds himself. The story unfolds in Acts 12:

All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!
7–9 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.
10–11 Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. – Acts 12:5-11 (Message)

“free as the breeze” - Peter was so perplexed by the miraculous events taking place that he thought he was dreaming, but as he breathed in the cool evening air, standing in the middle of the quiet street, his mind cleared in the realization of his freedom. He may have traveled speechless in awe and praise to God as he walked to Mary’s home where his church family was earnestly praying for him throughout the night.

Freedom! Peter was set free from the chains that bound him, the evil intent of King Herod and the Jerusalem mob, the dark prison, the guards set to stand watch over him, and the iron gates of the city. As we celebrate our Nation’s Independence Day, the day when those courageous colonist gathered and signed the Declaration of Independence from the most wealthy and powerful nation on earth in 1776, it is a day to celebrate freedom. From that declaration, followed an inevitable war with England, victory, the creation of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights with the enduring main theme of “freedom” weaved throughout.

As Christians I think we all have our Declaration of Independence Day – the day we said “yes” to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, declaring freedom from the bondage of sin, the darkness of the world’s lies and ignorance, and the inevitable condemnation by Satan. Jesus is the “light” that pierces through the darkness, He calls us, wakes us up to the truth, frees us from our shackles, commands us to obedience “get dressed, put on your shoes, grab your coat”, and leads us to open air freedom…free as the breeze.

This 4th of July, as the sun slips past the horizon and the fireworks light up the night sky, I will rejoice in our nation’s freedoms, but I will also give a prayer of praise and thanks to my Savior for rescuing me.