Free Spirit

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

A “free spirit”…you know, that person who doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. They march to the beat of their own drum; nothing holds them back or keeps them down. They just move through life from one thing to the next doing things their own way; the master of their own destiny…or so it seems. Perhaps that is your natural personality. Or, maybe you’re the complete opposite. You live by order; you live by routine; you live life according to the plans and rules that you’ve established for yourself. And maybe you even look at the free spirit and envy them.

Well, I happen to be one of those “free spirits.” At least, that’s what my natural personality is like. During my teenage years, I was attracted to TV shows that portrayed men who stood apart from the norm. They did things their own way and, in spite of the troubles that always seemed to come their way, they always came out on top and everyone looked up to them. One of my favorites was Kwai Chang Caine of the “Kung Fu” series. He was forced to leave the Shaolin Temple in China and he came to America to wander from place to place helping others with the unique skills that he had learned growing up. Another favorite was James Rockford of the “Rockford Files.” He was a private investigator who played by his own set of rules but always solved the case and ended up the hero. Those kinds of TV shows influenced me because I already had a personality that was geared toward individualism. I wanted to pursue my own interests and go through life without being tied down by routine or the day-to-day boredom that seemed to be the slavery of so many. But what I found during my early adult years was that I was a slave to my own stubborn pursuit of personal interests.

What I have learned is that the life of the “free spirit” is not really a free life after all. I found that true freedom is found only in the willingness to submit myself to the will of God. Many believe that if they give their life completely to God’s will then they will feel enslaved the rest of their life; they won’t be able to enjoy life; they won’t be able to enjoy the wonders of being a free spirit. But really it’s just the opposite. The more we pursue the things of this world, the more enslaved we are to something that will never satisfy. The things of this world will leave us empty and longing for the next (hopefully better) thing. The answer to true satisfaction in life is not being a “free spirit”; it is being Spirit-filled. Jesus tried to explain this to the Jewish people of His day in John 6. He told them, “If you abide in My word…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” But their response to Him was, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone.” So, Jesus had to explain that “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

Romans chapter 6 explains that we are either a slave to sin leading to death or a slave of God leading to everlasting life. The world sees the life of a Christian as a burden, something that will take away their freedom. But the truth is that we just don’t realize how enslaved we are by self-interest and worldly pursuits until we submit ourselves to God’s will and then we find ourselves in a freedom that gives us “inexpressible and glorious joy” (I Peter 1:8)!

The life of a free spirit is very attractive. It appeals to the very core of our nature because we all long to be free. But I have learned by personal experience that the life of a free spirit is not the answer…the Spirit-filled life is the answer. Galatians chapter 5 tells us that Christ has made us free. And the fruit of His Spirit is joy! So, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25).

Pursue God and He will give you true freedom and satisfaction!