I was recently visiting the upper Midwest area of our country, meeting with and encouraging Harvest Ministries partners, and as I was traveling along a stretch of road with tall green trees on either side—the skies above deep blue with white, puffy, cotton-ball clouds—I saw something I have never seen before. I witnessed an adult bald eagle flying across the sky. It was huge, majestic, and powerful all at the same time. Now, before you think, “Jeff, you should get out more,” let me say that I have seen bald eagles in zoos and in captive environments, but never free in the wild.
To witness the authority and confidence this eagle seemed to carry as it patrolled the skies was, for me, a very special moment—and a patriotic moment as well, thinking of the bald eagle as a symbol of our nation. It was flying free, the way it had been created to live by its Creator.
As Harvest America is fast approaching (October 5 from Dallas Texas), seeing that eagle reminded me about our freedom as Christians—not the patriotic freedom the bald eagle symbolizes, but the freedom from bondage and captivity the eagle was enjoying as I saw it soar through the sky. It reminded me of the freedom we as Christians have in Christ; specifically, the freedom from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus Christ gives us the freedom to bring glory to God, and thus fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
But the sad reality is, there are many people in this nation and around the world who are still living under the bondage and the captivity of sin. They lack true purpose and fulfillment because they are not living the way God has intended for them to live—free in Christ. Harvest America is proclaiming the Good News of Jesus, who came “to proclaim liberty to the captives…and to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 ESV), so that all who come to Him “may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV).
Will you partner in our efforts at Harvest Ministries in making God known to those who don’t yet have the true freedom from sin—the freedom that guarantees them eternal life, and an abundant purposeful life of freedom in Christ? They can then soar like the mighty, majestic bald eagle in the calling and purpose God has intended for them.
You can support the proclamation of the gospel through Harvest America, as so many others have in faithful prayer (visit our prayer cloud at harvestamerica.com). You can also encourage your church to become a host venue, get a Home Host kit for your own Harvest America, help support Harvest financially, or get the word out and promote the event in your local community!
Let the freedom you have in Christ be shared with others.
Free in Christ,
Pastor Jeff Dietz
Harvest America is an annual live nationwide event, streamed to thousands of host locations across the country—including churches, theaters, and living rooms.
Featuring top Christian artists and a clear gospel message by Greg Laurie, the goal of Harvest America is to impact a nation desperately in need of hope. Visit the official website: http://vlt.me/cmb
See an error in this article?
To contact us or to submit an article
