Freedom. [a picture of salvation]

A while back, God gave me a picture and recently He reminded me of it and expanded its meaning to me:

I saw a bunch of cages--one for each of us. These cages are the result of sin--missing the mark of God's best and falling short of His glory.
Jesus dying and rising again unlocked the cage to open the door.
Not believing in Him means staying in the cage as if it is still locked.
Believing in Him means acknowledging the cage and stepping out of it.
However, believing in Him but choosing to stay in fear and not live at our full height is like getting out of the cage but acting as if we are still in the cage.
That's where I feel like many of us have lived our lives on and off for a long time.
We may be free, but if we don't act like it, what good does that do?
Shouldn't we instead allow God to lead us about in the open place He has prepared for us.
As we enjoy the freedom, wouldn't we also want to walk to other cages--to those who are either still in the cage or standing next to it? Wouldn't we want to walk in God's Spirit to reveal true freedom to these people?
This is what I feel like true evangelism is--opening peoples' eyes to the cages they hold on to and showing them what they could have instead if only they would follow Christ's leading.



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