Set Free

In March of 1942, Major General Edward King surrendered to the Japanese Army in the Philippines. The Bataan surrender resulted in almost 70,000 Americans being taken captive by the Japanese. Hoping to find mercy and spare the soldiers' lives in the surrender, it resulted in what was known as the Bataan Death March, where some 600 American and thousands of Filipino soldiers died through execution, exhaustion, or disease on the way to the Cabanatuan POW camp. Sadly for some men, things were just starting to get worse.

For three years, the POWs of Cabanatuan suffered starvation, torture, disease, and torments that are hard to imagine. But the Army was not going to leave them behind. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci, the 6th Ranger battalion was coming to bust them out. With skill, determination, a good plan, good men, and by the good providence and grace of God, the Rangers made their way through the jungle, around the thousands of Japanese soldiers and, with guns blazing, rescued all but two of the POWs, who died as the result of sickness on the march back.

Actually, three. They left Edwin Rose, but not intentionally. Edwin Rose was an older man who worked administratively for the British Army. He lost his hearing and was about half blind. Rose was in the latrine when the raid started, suffering from stomach problems. He had been in there so long that he fell asleep. While the rangers were shooting up the place, bombs were blasting, soldiers were shouting, and the deaf Englishman was asleep. Thinking they had cleared the site, assault commander Captain Robert Prince went back through the camp, calling for anyone left to come on. They had to go. Time was of the essence. But he didn't think to check the latrine. Hours later, Rose woke up, groggy and confused, but soon realized he had fallen asleep, so he snuck back into the barracks, careful not to disturb the others, and went back to sleep. It wasn't until the morning came that he realized there were no "others." He was all alone. Rose went and sat at the gate of the camp and figured someone would come back. Thankfully, someone did.

Wouldn't it be a shame to be free from prison and not know it? Christians, by faith and union with Christ, have died with Him and are raised with Him in newness of life. "He that is dead is freed from sin." We've been set free from sin's prison and the power of the law to condemn us. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).

The doors were flung open, but some continued living like a captive, burdened by sins already forgiven and unable to grasp the truth of what Christ has accomplished for us. Child of God, in Christ, you are set free. Now we can live with joyous gratitude to our Saviour.


Leery of Freedom

When the Rangers arrived, many prisoners were confused (and so were the Rangers). Several of the POWs began to argue with their deliverers. The freed prisoners asked who the Rangers were and, when told, asked, "what's an Army Ranger?" They wondered why they should listen to them and others questioned their deliverer's uniform choice. Rather than follow the Rangers to safety, they pushed back and struggled to leave the place they dreamt of going. One frustrated Ranger spun a questioning POW around and gave him a swift kick in the direction of the door.

Colonel Duckworth was the American commander of Cabanatuan and informed the Rangers that he was in charge and they just couldn't just come in there and break them out of prison. The Japanese had made very clear that there were to be no escapes. "No one leaves unless I say they do!" He was so accustomed to being under the Japanese's servitude that he distrusted his freedom. Finally, it began to dawn on the prisoners they were being rescued.

Some Christians, when they realize they have been set free by Christ, are disoriented by their freedom and question whether it is a good thing to be free from the law's condemnation. I know that sounds strange, and it was weird to write. But it does make sense to a self-righteous soul who has been trying for so long to keep the law to earn God's favor and see that there is liberty in Christ Jesus. Preachers, like Colonel Duckworth, fearful that church members will get lax, preach the law to Christ's freemen as if they were still in bondage.

The Christian has been set free from the condemnation of the law and is now free to obey God in peace and liberty. We are free from God's judgment and are set free to serve Him. We are set free from the tyranny of sin to follow Christ in the law of liberty. Once the POWs realized they were saved, they gladly obeyed the Rangers. They did whatever they asked them with gratitude.

We are the children of obedience (1 Peter 1:14), children who obey our Father. We are not the enslaved people who try and work out our salvation, nor are we the prisoners who live in fear of retribution from our hard master. No, Satan was the harsh master. Sin was the dark dominion we were held captive in. Christ is the liberator. He rescued us from the "dark Egyptian night" and set us free, but too often, people think they would be better off as slaves in Egypt. At least they had onions.  

Jesus died for sinners and set the captives free. Trust Him as Saviour. And when you consider what Christ has done for you, you'll gladly follow him, grateful for His grace. How could we not desire to listen to and obey our deliverer?