Tonight as we worshiped, we sang a chorus about being set free .. if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed. We prayed for ourselves, for others, to be set free in Jesus. There is both the celebration of freedom in Christ, and at the same time the yearning for freedom. It’s a conundrum. We know we are free and in many ways we experience the freedom. At the same time, we experience the same kinds of longing, looking forward to complete redemption … a new heaven and earth … a new body … eternity …
George Herbert captures well the restlessness, weariness that drives us to our knees, to the heart of God … to experience that freedom in its fullness.
WHEN God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by ;
Let us (said he) poure on him all we can :
Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.
So strength first made a way ;
Then beautie flow’d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure :
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottome lay.
For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewell also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature :
So both should losers be.
Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlesnesse :
Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,
If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse
May tosse him to my breast.
