Last weekend we were in Mt. Hermon Ca. in a cabin enjoying the beauty of redwood and giant sequoia trees. On Saturday morning I got a call from a friend who asked us to pray for his daughter. She was in the hospital and declining rapidly he said. Four months earlier she had been in a tragic head on collision. She suffered a compound fracture of one of her legs,and an arm was basically crushed. She also broke her pelvis. It was a miracle she survived. By the time of my friend's phone call, all of her bones had healed and she was about to start rehab to hopefully begin walking again. However the night before the phone call she was taken to the E.R. with terrible pain. It appeared to be an undetected injury from the accident. She was septic and they tried valiantly to save her but early that Sunday morning she departed for her home in Heaven at the age of 27. After receiving that message from my friend on Sunday morning my wife and I were in shock and disbelief. This man had lost his father and his wife and now his daughter in the span of four years. A couple of years ago he was remarried and has a wonderful wife by his side to walk with him through this time of sorrow.
Later that day I sat on the deck of that cabin taking in the view of the forest below me. I began reading again from John's gospel chapter 11, in particular the account of the raising of Lazarus. The old familiar passage began slowly to bring some comfort as I tried to come to grips with the passing of Amber. It was not in the familiar details or the drama of Jesus speaking the resurrection of Lazarus, where my soul began an upward climb. It was with the final words of verse 44 where Jesus said to them "Unbind him and let him go." The idea of being unbound in Christ and by Christ lifted my head and heart. There is no telling how many time I've read those words, but on that Sunday morning they impacted me afresh. While it is true Lazarus had to pass through death again, he would no longer fear it,or be bound by it. Amber was not going to be bound by death or anymore struggles here in this life. She is unbound in heaven and enjoying eternity with her mother and grandfather and yes Jesus himself face to face.
Then I began to think about how we are also "Unbound in Christ". I think at times we forget about the freedom we have in Jesus as His children. We allow ourselves to be bound up by certain things and circumstances that come our way. Some of these are possibly out of our control and others we may bring on ourselves. It could be that some of these things are well known to us. We have no problem identifying them. Others are more covert or subtle. Maybe we're bound by performance or trying to meet another's standard. Maybe some are still trying to impress the Lord who is no longer keeping score. We've either passed from death to life or we haven't according to John 5:24. If this truth is your truth, then let's begin today to realize that we are "The Unbound" in Christ and start enjoying His fullness right here right now! Begin to hear Him speaking these words to and of you "Unbind him or her, and let him go!
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