The High Cost of Freedom

“And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was freeborn.” —Acts 22:28 KJV

This quote from the Bible, spoken by Paul, a man who was born a Roman citizen and therefore free, but who also understood the value of spiritual freedom, serves as a powerful reminder of the high cost of freedom. We often take our freedom for granted without realizing the cost we have paid for it. Someone paid the price for the liberty we enjoy. In 1944, the Allied forces, including the U.S., invaded northern France. Their mission was to liberate France from Nazi occupation. The official name was “Operation Overlord,” but it became known by its code name, D-Day.

The Historic D-Day Invasion: A Turning Point in World War II

The largest amphibious military operation in history saw 18,000 parachutists drop by dawn, while 6,000 landing craft carried at least 155,000 soldiers to beaches including Gold, Juno, Sword, and Utah. Omaha Beach was especially brutal, with 2,000 Allied casualties. By day's end, over 155,000 Allied troops—Americans, British, and Canadians—had secured Normandy. By June's end, 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles were in the region, preparing to advance across Europe. Over 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, highlighting the high cost of freedom.

The US only managed to get about twenty-five percent of its supplies to shore, having lost the rest. However, this battle greatly reduced the Germans’ capabilities and marked a turning point in the war. The figures vary greatly and will probably remain unknown regarding how many were wounded, missing, taken prisoner, or killed. The numbers even differ on how many were in Normandy by the end of June, ranging from 850,000 to over one million. By August 1944, the Allies had liberated Northern France.

Remembering the Sacrifices of World War II

Today, 9,383 servicemen and four women rest at Normandy's American cemetery above Omaha Beach. Before D-Day, nearly 12,000 had already been lost. In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war. Over fifty million military and civilian lives were lost worldwide since Hitler's 1939 invasion of Poland. Today, 9,383 servicemen and four women rest at Normandy's American cemetery above Omaha Beach. Before D-Day, nearly 12,000 had already been lost. In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war. Over fifty million military and civilian lives were lost worldwide since Hitler's 1939 invasion of Poland. 

My point is that many soldiers paid a high price for the freedom we enjoy. Had the Allied forces not been victorious, Germany would have likely taken over the entire world. We should honor the men and women who served in the war. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as of 2021, around 200,000 American WWII veterans were still alive. That is down from 620,000 in 2016.

A Selfless Sacrifice

There was a time in history when one man made a selfless sacrifice similar to that of our brave servicemen and women. However, his sacrifice far outweighs anything any of us has ever done for others. Approximately two thousand years ago, a man (fully God and fully human) volunteered to sacrifice his life for the benefit of all mankind. Though rejected, he persisted until his death, even for those who refused to believe him. He could have refused to serve, but gave up his royal seat and served as an ordinary man — a selfless act that continues to inspire us today.

Imagine that! A man set aside his royal crown to fight a battle he could have avoided, for a world full of people who had no regard for his life or the fact that he was willing to sacrifice it in battle. 

The Ancient Battle: Lucifer's Rebellion and the Triumph of Good

Oh yes, a great battle had raged long before man inhabited the earth. It began before recorded time, when the archangel Lucifer, along with about a third of the heavenly host, rose in opposition and attempted to overthrow God. Of course, Lucifer and his followers were condemned, expelled, and cast down to hell, prepared for them by God. This victory of good over evil in the spiritual realm gives us hope and reassurance in our battles. 

This great man, who was willing to commit to this battle, was none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God and a part of the Holy Trinity in heaven. He was conceived on earth when the Holy Ghost overshadowed a young Jewish girl. Having chosen to set aside his royal status in Revelation chapter 5, he came into the world as a baby. As an adult, he sacrificed his life, gaining forgiveness for all sins. 

After God created the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, Lucifer, now known as Satan, approached the woman in the Garden of Eden. He deceived her into believing that disobeying God wouldn't lead to death. God knew this would happen and already had a plan for forgiving man's sin. Christ’s willingness to be the ultimate sacrifice would satisfy God's heart and create a pathway for man's forgiveness. Heaven, earth, and the depths below had been searched, but no other perfect man was found suitable to be that sacrifice. 

The Choice Between Jesus and Barabbas: A Pivotal Moment in History

The rest is history. Jesus died on the Roman cross for sins he didn't commit, so those who had committed sins could go free. The first was Barabbas, who had been sentenced to death for his part in a revolt against the government. The leader, Pontius Pilate, gave a mob that had assembled against Jesus a choice between him and the criminal Barabbas. The crowd, blinded by hatred and not realizing the will of God was being fulfilled, chose to let Barabbas live and crucify Jesus in his place.

There had been only mock trials, complete with false witnesses against him, senseless beatings, and public shaming. Even as he hung on the cross dying, the crowd and the Roman soldiers united in ridiculing and mocking him. The crowd, still unaware of what they were doing, continued and even stripped him of his clothes, and the soldiers gambled for them. Strange darkness covered the earth from noon until three in the afternoon. As he approached the end of his life, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, praying, “Into thy hands, I commend my spirit.” With those words, he surrendered and died. A very thick veil hung in the temple, serving to separate God and humanity because of sin. It was torn from top to bottom at the exact moment Jesus died. These events, the darkness, and the veil had never happened before. 

Revelation at the Cross: The Thief's Faith and the Temple's Veil

One of the thieves hanging on the cross beside Jesus believed in Him. Jesus responded by telling the man he would be with Him in Paradise that day. Naturally, this brought the crowd to a fever pitch. Now, He was dead, and the temple’s veil had been torn. Some believed in Him that day, and some of the soldiers admitted He was a righteous man. One even confessed that He must be the Son of God. 

Heaven’s host of angels had to stand idly by during this event. For the first and only time, God turned His back on Jesus. Thirty-three years away from His Father, and this was how it would end. It’s not a sad story, however, because, unlike the sacrifices of WWII, this one has a happy ending. Three days after his death, one of his followers, a woman named Mary, found him alive. She came to the tomb early that morning. Jesus instructed his disciples on what to tell them. They had given up everything to follow him.

The Ascension and Promise of Jesus: A Forty-Day Journey

Sometime that day, he ascended to heaven, likely to a celebration like no other. He presented himself and his shed blood to the Father as the ultimate payment for sin. After returning to Earth and meeting with his disciples, Jesus spent forty days instructing them. Many others who had died were seen alive after his resurrection. The government or religious leaders of the day could explain none of this. At the end of the forty days, he went out to a mountain with many of his followers. From there, he ascended back into heaven to his Father, but promised to return for those who believed in him.

Heaven gave its best—the Son of God, who sacrificed his life on the cross to offer forgiveness of sins to everyone willing to believe and accept him. His invitation to believe and receive forgiveness is open to all who choose to accept it. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, KJV). 

This sacrifice has been a constant throughout history, from the first soldier to fall in battle to the last. But never has sacrificing one’s life for friends meant so much. Freedom, without a doubt, truly comes at a high cost. 

---

Prayer: Dear Father, help me consider the value of Christ giving his life to give me the freedom found in salvation. Forgive me for taking my freedoms for granted, both spiritual and physical. Please show me how to live gratefully, recognizing the grave sacrifices others have made and continue to make, so that I may enjoy the freedom I have. Amen.

Your turn: What steps can you take to show gratitude for your spiritual and physical freedom? Are there things that have held you back? If so, how can you rely on Christ to set you free?