The free man

Who is free? Is freedom based on whether you walk around with phyiscal chains or handcuffs? No! A man in prison can be more free than a king upon his throne. A man in prison can be at peace, while a monarch upon his throne is a slave to fear, appearances, his court, concubines etc.. Sometimes a physical prison is the greatest place of freedom. A man who was a slave to drugs may find himself free from it in the prison after having had time to regain his mind, his manhood. He could have been a slave to ambition, but the prison slowed him down, giving him time to reflect. The prison has become his intellectual palace, a place of deep reflection and introspection. God will, in life, use different prisons in order to set us free. The prison of a sickness, of a loss of relationship, loss of a job, are sometimes the best schools towards freedom, while the palace of a relationship, of a high paying job can be the worse bondage. The free man is the one who has time for introspection.

Malcolm Ex was physically freed in his youth, but he was a slave to drugs, women and vice. He was a slave to the condition many blacks found themselves in those days: deprived of economic opportunities. But in prison, he became mentally freed. He escaped the chains that had degraded his manhood and became an intellectual voice for liberation in the struggle of the blacks. Prison opened his eyes to his condition. Introspection and learning of religion exposed some of the invisible chains that held him fast. The prison was to him an intellectual library and a place of liberation. As a matter of fact, he had access to great books while in the prison, books he would have never thought to read while physically freed and drugged out. He learn to debate, increased his vocabulary; The prison freed his intellectual self. The prison saved Malcolm from himself. He was no longer a slave to fast money (the hustle), women, drugs and aimlessly drifting through life. He became a man focused, driven and on a mission. The free man knows his worth, is not distracted and is on a mission.

Who is free? Is a man free because he has money, fame etc..? A homeless man may be more free than the wealthiest tycoon and famous musician. 

Freedom is not a matter of position, situation or life circumstances, freedom begins in the mind.

A man may be in chains yet has been freed from the mental chains society imposed.

Paul and Silas were in prison and were yet more free than the guard who feared that any escaped prisoners may cost him his life. Paul and Silas were more free than the emperor Nero on his throne, who feared conspiracies from every corner.

John the Baptist was homeless and yet was more free than king Herod upon his throne, who was bound in a chain of lust and appearance of power and greatness. John was free from the bondage of man's expectations, while Herod was fearful of even a whisper of disaproval. A monarch so in chain to public opinion that he had John executed in order to keep a foolish oath for fear of appearing indecisive.

This is why Christ said “everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” John 8:34 (CSB). The man or woman under the power of sin is a slave to all manner of fears and constraints, regardless of their external circumstances.

But if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. The free man is the man who has been set free by Christ. Freed from his fears, anxieties, vices, false identity. Free from the delusion of society. 

The man who is free is the one who has taken the first step towards freedom. He has turned away from his chains. An escaped slave who falls in battle against his master, dies a free man. 

The free man is the one who has taken the first step towards freedom. 

The first step is the true revolutionary act upon which the flag of liberty is planted.

Whether in secular matters or spiritual matters, the free man is the one who has decided to no longer be a slave to the foolish pursuits of society, of this world, and has taken the first step towards freedom.

Whether it be being content with what one has and not chasing after constant promotions, likes, and keeping up with the Joneses, or in spiritual matters where the man or woman who has decided to give his or her life to Christ, and makes Him his first love: The first one he speaks to in the morning, the last one he speak to at night. This is a man who will reject the idea that a man or woman holds the key to our satisfaction, that money will make us happy, and that drugs, sex and alcohol will cure our wounds. The man who has rejected these false ideas has freed himself from cruel chains and is a free man. He has taken the first step towards Christ by giving himself over to Him. Even if he has not yet experienced the joy and peace promised, he has committed a revolutionary act and is already freed from the bondage of Satan and society.

You may still have your struggles, you may still be in physical chains, but the decision to leave, the first step towards Christ has already removed the shackles from your mind. You have seen the way to true freedom. Christ will strengthen you, make you focus and give you a mission. The mission? To continue the march of liberty and to spread the call of it everywhere, in whatever way He has called you. 

The only question is will you continue? My advice: move forward, and advance.

The pain of freedom

Freedom is costly. Painful. It is easier to remain a slave than to endure the painful struggle that leads to freedom. A slave knows where he will find his food: among the crumbs from his master's table. Knows where he will sleep: his master cottage. But a man striving for freedom has no idea where he will lay his head, nor any idea where his next meal will come from.

The slave finds comfort in familiarity. The familiarity of the plantation, his chains, his master's brutality & degrees of benevolence. The slave knows that as long as he behaves, submits, then tomorrow will be as today. The slave is familiar with the vices that comfort his soul. The materialism that keeps him grounded. He looks forward to the bonfire pleasures after a long day of work to numb his pain. The nightclub on the weekend to dance away his anxieties. The uncommitted sex to temporarily make him forget his condition, his brokenness, his emptiness.

The man seeking freedom has no such comfort. Picture him as a man fleeing from the plantation of a harsh master. He flees because he understands his condition. He realizes the comforts of slavery are not comforts at all. The master’s food doesn't fill him, for they are only crumbs. His cottage is not fitted for him, but for a dog. The plantation work robs him of his human dignity. The dance club, the meaningless sex, are simply coping mechanisms that further his degradation, and make a mockery of both his humanity and manhood.

Life is more than constant work on a plantation, constant rounds of pleasures. And so he says "I will depart this evil place and I will seek freedom at all costs. I will endure privation in order to truly gain. Better to lose all comforts of bandage to gain my soul.” And so after much reflection, he sets out on the path of freedom, not knowing what to expect. On the way to freedom lies death, wild beasts, forests, deserts, swamps, the pursuit of the master upon him, the unexpected, but better to face all these than to remain in cruel bondage. And so he sets out.

The path towards freedom is hard, for he must leave behind his former life and former thoughts. As he walks away from the plantation, from the friends he knew, the master he hated, the certainty he knew, he faces the emptiness of separation. A darkness sweeps over him-“have I made the right choice? Am I foolish? Why would I throw away my life in pursuing such a foolish endeavor? Why am I not content with my slavery? Should I turn back to the world of bondage?”-But he remembers the emptiness, the soul degradation from slavery, the false promise of freedom if one is ‘obedient enough’, and he says “I will go forward no matter what.

I will escape from the bondage of consumerism, the pursuit of pleasure to numb my pain. I will endure the dark night of the soul so that I may see the light of freedom.” Day and night he walks, resting a little, with one goal in mind, liberty or death. “I will not turn back.”

A man who seeks freedom must be willing to endure hardship, privation, heavy sorrows and uncertainty. 

So is the life of a Christian. The true Christian is kne who recognizes that he has been a slave to a cruel master, even Satan. Satan had him on his plantation, working to death, with glimpses of pleasure and a false hope of future liberation to keep him in bondage. Satan promises him, if he simply works hard enough, he will be rich and can retire without a care in the world! But he hides from him the fact that as wealth increases so too does the fear of losing it. Satan promises him “you can have this girl” or if the slave is a woman, “you can have this man. After a long pursuit, if you can sleep with her, then you will finally enjoy bliss.” But he hides the fact that in casually sleeping with someone, your depression, sense of worthlessness and meaningless of the relationship and of life itself will simply increase. The Christian is one who realizes the deception of the slave master to keep him in a state of degradation in order to fasten his rule over him. 

The Christian hears the true promise of freedom  and decides for himself- “I will pursue it at all costs. I will pursue it even though my family stays behind, even though my friends stay behind, even if I have to leave behind my former identity, the identity of a slave. I will pursue freedom even though I become emptied of all I used to know. I will pursue freedom even though I have no certainty of what tomorrow will bring. I may get wounded in the way,  but I will continue. The master's arrow may strike me, but I will crawl. The only thing that will stop me is capture or death, but turning back, I will not. 

In order to be freed from the bondage of sin, we must be willing to endure the dark night of the soul. The emptiness that comes as a result of being separated from all we used to know in order to prepare us for things we knew not. The slave is degraded and doesn't know what it means to be a free man or woman. For him to experience true manhood, for her to experience true womanhood, she must be willing to be separated from the false identity that slavery has given her.

The slave master told her she is only her physical beauty, so cater to this shell at the neglect of your inner beauty. Tells him you are only the amount of money you have, so pursue money at the neglect of your soul.

He must be willing to separate from all these false notions in order to know that a true man, a true woman is one who understands that our value comes only from God. The old master used chains of iron, whips of cords. The new master uses the chains of materialism, pleasure,  and fear of the quiet time with self to reflect.  The whips of conformity to worldly customs to keep us in check and subdued. The master is the same, but has simply changed his method. He has simply put on velvet gloves to hide his iron fists. 

To be truly free we must experience the pain of freedom, the pain that comes in letting go of the old man, the old way of life, to embrace the new. Each step I take away from the plantation is another step towards dignity, true manhood. There can be no turning back, no doublemindedness, no stopping to relax and explore. To do so is to risk the master and his hunters to steal me back. I must flee from slavery no matter how painful, to the city of refuge no matter how far. I must flee to Christ no matter how difficult, how soul trying , how dark the process is, I must go forward to Christ. I might fall along the way, but no turning back. Get back up and continue the journey. Thoughts may come to you that says this journey is futile, turn back to your old master, he will welcome you, you will find rest. But remember, the fact that you took a step out of the plantation of sin means you are already free, you are making decisions for yourself. Your old sinful master is no longer commanding you as he once did. You have tasted freedom, so keep moving forward towards Christ. Too often we think freedom is when we are finally at the goal, but freedom is a process and begins with the first revolutionary act, the act of leaving the plantation of sin. Many have thoughts of freedom, but never take the first step and as a result have died in slavery. The man or woman who has taken the first step towards Christ has already overcome the fear of the master's wrath and are already enjoying liberty.

No turning back

No innocent sin

Every sin is impactful. Every sin leaves a lasting mark.

​Have you ever thought, “This is a small sin; God is not concerned about it,” but then you wrestle with guilt? Every sin wounds the soul and weakens one's moral power. This is why, after committing sin, we feel unworthy of speaking for God. The moral injury makes our hands feeble.

​This is why Christianity is so weak in the land. Christians practice sin with impunity and have become so morally compromised that standing for the right would simply expose us as hypocrites. And so, we stay silent.

​King David experienced a similar situation. After his sin with Bathsheba, his transgression left a moral wound that made it difficult for him to address the evils in his home—the evils in his children's lives.

​How could he reprove the behavior of his sons and say, “Son, this is a sin,” while he himself was a murderer and an adulterer? But you say, “David had repented.” He did, but the moral stain remained, and it most likely led to the chaos in his home. His sin, done in secret, led to public disaster. His inability to reprove his sons led to them becoming lawless, and the floodgates of wickedness flowed into his home. The sword he had unsheathed against Uriah struck his own household.

​Another way we deal with the moral injury caused by sin is by becoming harsh and legalistic. When we realize we are not living up to the standard that we should—realizing that we are hypocrites—we try to cover our nakedness with external performances to make others believe we are more righteous than we are. We may become very strict, without mercy. We are quick to condemn others who are found guilty of the same sin we struggle with privately. No one is harsher toward a caught thief than another thief.

​A Christian, or even a church struggling with sin's devastating wounds, will react in one of two extremes: either tolerating sin, compromising with it, and seeing it as no big deal because moral power has greatly diminished; or becoming harsh, judgmental, and unmerciful to cloak the inner ulcer of sin's ravaging impact.

​Many of us think we can commit sin, repent afterward, and all will be well. While it is true that God does forgive us immediately as we seek forgiveness, those moral stains and wounds take longer to heal. Not only do they take longer, but the enemy—the accuser of the brethren—will bring them back to our consciences again and again, accusing us of being vile, of being a stain on the cause of God, of being a hypocrite, and of being unworthy of the name Christian. The enemy will even suggest that God cannot save us, that we are too compromised, and thus the best thing to do is to forsake the Lord altogether in order to be free from a life of duplicity.

​During those times of fierce temptation as a result of our sins, we must draw near to Jesus, trusting that despite our filthiness and unworthiness, He has promised to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He will slowly but surely restore our moral strength if we stay in His love.

​So friends, let us get away from the belief that because no one sees our sinful actions, they have no impact. That's a lie! No matter how secret the sin is, our moral and spiritual structures are still exposed to its piercing arrows; the soul is still wounded, and our spiritual strength diminishes.

​The further we are from God, the less we feel sin’s impact because our senses have become dull and our moral nature so compromised that it has become insensible—dead in trespasses and sin. When we are dead, we no longer feel. To be dead in sin is to no longer feel its shame, guilt, and piercing arrows.

​But as a person draws closer to God, every transgression is felt. You accidentally say something that hurts someone, and you feel crushed by it. You do something you know is not right, and you feel heavy-laden and burdened. The closer you draw to God, the more heinous your own sin appears. The slightest sin becomes a burden too great to be borne. Sin has weight! Sin weighs us down and crushes our spirit. But we only recognize its gravity as we draw closer to the Lord.

​Let us walk in the light of God's countenance and expose all our sinful thoughts and actions to Him, so that He may cleanse us and make us stand upright and strong. He will then give us moral power to withstand Satan's accusations and temptations, and to be a witness of the gospel—a witness of the power to transform.

The anatomy of prophecy: how does prophecy works?

How does prophecy work? Does God decree the events? Meaning, is God One who says “such and such is supposed to happen”?

Prophecy is God's foreknowledge of what will happen. God is omniscient and knows all things. It doesn't mean He decrees certain events;

God knew before He created beings and gave them free will that a great majority of them would rebel against Him, but He didn't decree their rebellion. The creature had their free choice in the matter. God just knew. God sits on high, dwells in eternity and from His vantage point, sees all things and all possibilities at once. He knows all potential paths we could take in life and their results, and knows the certain paths we will take.

Let's picture God as someone who is seated atop of high place: a mountain fortress with a valley below. In the valley, there is a highway, a good way that leads from a desert place all the way to the safety of the fortress. Throughout the valley, there is quicksand, dangerous animals, steep chasms, and more, but the road to the castle is protected by barbed wires, walls and guards. The guards protect the travelers from outside threats, but they don't prevent a person from climbing the walls to exit the highway. Next, let's say there are different roads that come up to that main road and lead to diverse places.  One leads to a quick sand pit, another to a den of lions, another to a snake pit, and another to a steep chasm. On the way to the castle, there are messagers saying “This way is the only safe way, do not exit at any point or you will die.” They assert that this is what King of the castle is saying. How does the King know this? From a high and lifted up vantage point, He can see all things, all paths, all decisions and their end results. He doesn't decree that people must die, but He knows many will choose death through disobedience. Thinking that from their low vantage point they can see the end results.

This is what happened to Lucifer, the covering cherub and even to Adam and Eve in the garden: They thought they could see things more clearly than God. That they could navigate the moral journey alone. Hence, a possible reason of why the tree is called ‘the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’. A knowledge to determine whether it’s safer to follow God's guidance or our own understanding, and many of us have fallen into the snake pit mentioned above and experienced its evil result..

This is how prophecy works to a great degree: God sees where we will end up by the decisions we are making. When God gives warnings, He is not giving them to scare us, but out of love to keep us from the dangers we can't see.

Let's use an easier example. The case of Lucifer. He was the greatest creation, but as a created being, still has limited vision on things. He cannot see eternity and the eternal results of his decisions, only the Creator from His vantage point can see so far.

So Lucifer trusted in his wisdom and thought that in rebelling against God, he would ascend higher and create a greater destiny for himself. What he didn’t see was how highly esteemed he was with God, and the invisible cords of love that bounded Him to the Creator to keep him so high. He didn’t see that rebellion against God is not an act of ascendancy, but rather the cutting off of the cords, and the falling into a deep chasm. A bottomless pit of hopeless despair. He rejected the warnings of God because he thought he knew better than His Creator. He thought there were alternatives to God's way, but no such thing exists.  God saw that his decision would lead to catastrophic ruin ending up in destruction.

In the case of Peter, Jesus told him "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Matt 26:34 (NLT). Peter rejected the Lord's prophetic warning and assured the Lord, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" Matt 26:35 (NLT). He rejected the fact that the Lord from His eternal vantage point knows all things. The Lord saw that Peter was on the path of self reliance; He trusted in himself, his wisdom and understanding. The path of self reliance leads directly to Satan's snake den and no man without God is strong enough to overcome him. Peter, in rejecting the Lord's warnings fell right into its fulfillment. When time came to pray in the garden, not seeing the danger he was in, he fell asleep. The Lord couldn't help him because he didn't seek his help. Yet in His mercy, still protected him from falling away completely. When the trial came, when they asked Peter the question repeatedly about his connection to Christ, he denied his Lord. Did the Lord decree that that should happen? Was the prophecy God's will and doing? No! God saw that the path Peter was on, unless repented of, would lead to ruin.

Some prophecies are God's doing. He decrees them because He himself will do it. The coming of Christ was God's doing. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt was also His doing. But many a times the prophecies are simply God revealing what we will do based on which path we take. 

The death of Christ was prophecied. But who killed Him? The wages of sin is death, and for man to be saved, Christ must have died to redeem Him & pay His debt. But who killed Him? Wicked men inspired by Satan. God knew then that the human race under the control of Satan and sin would destroy Him if given the chance. Satan hates God, he hates Christ-and God knew that if he was allowed the chance to harm, He would kill Christ. So God allowed Satan's own malice to destroy His Son and put the wages of sin upon Him to pay the debt of sin. 

Prophecy for the end times are similar. The human race took the path of evil. What is evil but the pursuit of selfish aims, even at the expense of God, in others? What is the end result of multitudes of people pursuing selfish aims at the expense of each other? Misery and ruin. The end result of the human race, without Divine restraint would be strife, bloodshed and all manner of evils.

So in the end of times, God predicted that this will be the case. He would remove His restraints, since men keep pushing the boundaries. One of the ways God judges a person, or nation is by letting them go their own way, which will always end up in ruins.

When a man is greedy for gain, accumulates wealth at the expense of the masses, hoards it and sells things at high prices, eventually what you end end up with is starvation of the people. Starvation which easily leads to revolutions and all manner of crimes. A scholar in human history can predict with a great degree of accuracy the path of a nations based on its current trajectory. How much more the Lord, who sees all things?

One of the reasons we don't recognize when we are living in a prophetic time is because majority of us are short-sighted. We are not aware of history and thus can't tell where our current paths are leading. But the student of history can see where a particular path will lead to, sooner or later. For example, someone who is a robber will have certain outcomes we all can expect: death or prison. He may not see it at the time, but these are possible destinations for his journey. 

In conclusion, prophecies are not always something that God is doing, but rather that God is allowing in order for the creature to take his own path and reap the sure results. God has given his creatures free choice and tells them that this is the way of life and all other ways are the ways of death. Why? Because all other ways lead away from Me who is the source of life, and to go away from Me is to be on the journey towards certain death. So prophecy is here to warn us not to take certain paths so that we do not end up in certain situations.

Also, prophecy warns us on coming events and how to escape them. The sure escape for any prophetic event is to obey God and hide ourselves in His ark of safety, in Christ alone.

The violence within

 The Violence Within

​“The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

— Genesis 6:11 (KJV)

​According to the study Bible, the term "corrupt" means “a moral decay and departure from God's intended order.”

​What is violence? Well, the online dictionary defines it as such: “behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.”

​While the dictionary has a good definition, it doesn't address the full scope of the word. For example, in Malachi 2:16 (NKJV) the Bible says:

​"For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the Lord of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."

​The New Living Translation says:

​"For I hate divorce!" says the Lord, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty," says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."

​Redefining Violence: Broken Trust and Wounded Spirits

​So here, we see that God defines violence as dealing with someone treacherously. You made a vow before marriage—"until death do us part"—and then you break that vow. You committed violence. Why? Because you broke trust. While the violence may not have been physical, you still wounded their spirit. That wound may now lead the person into a downward spiral affecting their mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Here we can see how dealing treacherously with someone is great violence.

​When God said the earth was covered with violence in Genesis, He wasn't just talking about physical violence, but any type of action that deliberately harms another, whether it be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, or physically.

​And the truth, my friend, is that we are very violent. Whether we go to church or not, we are violent. Violence will automatically be our default setting once self has gained the ascendancy in the life. All of us, to varying degrees, are under the control of self; and violence is within us.

​Why do we yell, get angry so easily, curse at each other, and do things to purposely hurt each other? It is the expression of inner violence. The sweetest-looking individual can harbor intense violence within.

​The Hidden Faces of Abuse

​For example, in domestic violence relationships, you’ll often find the man to be the physically abusive one. That doesn't mean women are not abusive as well, as we well understand that physical abuse is not the sole kind of abuse. Women are not as abusive physically—not for lack of violence, but for lack of physical strength.

​Women display their inner violence through hurtful words, emotional manipulation, etc. Remember, violence is anything that one uses in order to harm another, whether emotionally, physically, spiritually, or mentally.

​A harsh word spoken in anger can be violence. And violence always destroys trust, as individuals will seek to protect themselves from the violent person.

​The Fortress of Fear

​Why are nations heavily armed? To protect themselves against other nations. Why do nations seek nuclear weapons? To protect themselves against nuclear-armed nations. Why are American citizens heavily armed? To keep themselves safe from other violent people. Violence always leads to a rush to arm oneself, to defense, to the building up of a fortress, to isolation.

​The more violent we become as individuals, the more defensive those around us will be. People may live in a home together, yet be spiritually and emotionally guarded against each other due to the violence of one another. A person who lacks self-control over themselves, their mouth, or their emotions is a violent and reckless person. They will harm those around them. They claim to love, but war will soon rise up—not necessarily a physical war, but a war of words; a war that leads to emotional withdrawals and eventual separation.

​Violence always leads to separation, even if not physically.

​The Empty Soul and the Mask of Society

​So why was humanity so violent? Why are we so violent? It is because we lack the Holy Spirit of God. For the fruit of the Spirit is love, meekness, temperance, self-control, etc. A person without the Holy Spirit feels empty and angry—angry because of the many disappointments in life, the many rejections and frustrations.

​For the majority of people, the fear of looking bad in the eyes of society keeps this violence hidden until you get close to them. Because of this, some people, in order to maintain a good look in society, don't allow people to get too close to them. But get close enough, and you’ll experience the violence within: the anger, rage, vile words, tantrums, manipulation, the desire to hurt, and the seek for revenge.

​And usually, the person closest is the one who experiences the violence. The irony of such a case is that we hurt and kill the person we claim to love. This is why domestic violence cases are so high. People hurt and kill the person closest to them because, in close and continuous proximity, it is hard to pretend and control the inner violence.

​The Breaking of the Dam

​The inner violence cannot be controlled all the time. The more we seek to control the inner violence, the more it builds, and one day, like a broken dam, its waters will overflow and sweep away everything in its path. This is why sometimes we see violence rise up from people from the smallest triggers. It’s the small, continuous rain that eventually breaks the dam.

​So how do we free our soul from the violence within? There is only one way, and it is by bringing the self before God with all its wounds, disappointments, and frustrations, and then asking God for His healing grace—asking God for His Holy Spirit. A one-time ask will not do; we have to continue to come to God and present the deep issues in our hearts to Him.

​This is why, in the aforementioned verse in Malachi, God warns to guard ourselves that we do not deal treacherously with our spouse. Meaning, unless we are on constant guard through prayer, we will deal treacherously with our spouses, we will deal treacherously with each other, we will wound, we will harm, and we will destroy one another.

​Seeking the True Ark of Safety

​Human beings are destructive by nature. Our default setting is to protect self and attack others—to keep for self and take from others. Our default setting is violence. And in the days of Noah, God said:

​"...My Spirit shall not always strive with man, because he is but flesh..."

— Genesis 6:3 (GNV)

​The natural man without the Holy Spirit is violent, and so if we want to stop being violent and stop being destructive to those around us, let us seek the Lord daily. Let us ask the Lord to remove the violence from our hearts and minds and to give us a renewed mind, a sound mind which will work towards bringing peace, harmony, love, and tenderness to the lives of others.

​Now we can see why God destroyed the world with a flood. The violence within our hearts had become an overwhelming flood sweeping through society, breaking the dam of God's limit, which then overwhelmed the unrepentant who didn't make Christ their refuge.

​Just as God provided an ark of safety for Noah from the violence of the flood, He will provide an ark of safety for us with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the soul, shielding our souls from our own nature.

​May God bless you.

L'espoir en ruines : Le Jour du Drapeau d'Haïti en 2026

 En 1804, Haïti est devenue la première nation noire indépendante de la planète et la deuxième dans l'hémisphère occidental. Haïti est devenue le premier pays des Amériques à abolir officiellement l'esclavage et le seul pays de l'histoire fondé à la suite d'une révolte d'esclaves.

​La naissance du drapeau

​Le drapeau haïtien a été adopté en mai 1803, à l'Arcahaie, une ville au nord de Port-au-Prince. Les Haïtiens ont arraché la partie blanche du drapeau français et ont laissé le bleu et le rouge ensemble. Le bleu représentait les Africains noirs et le rouge les mulâtres. Le drapeau a été cousu par Catherine Flon.

​Un triomphe monumental et sa rançon

​Les Haïtiens ont réussi là où le célèbre personnage historique Spartacus avait échoué. Ce fut un accomplissement monumental — monumental parce que l'idéologie raciste de l'époque affirmait que les Noirs étaient inférieurs aux Blancs. Cette fausse idéologie est une chose à laquelle beaucoup de gens se cramponnent encore aujourd'hui, ignorant le fait qu'aucun être humain n'est inférieur à un autre. On peut naître dans des circonstances et des opportunités inférieures, mais les êtres humains sont égaux en nature, et pour quiconque, ignorer cette réalité revient à s'illusionner jusqu'au péril.

​Ainsi, les colonisateurs et les maîtres d'esclaves français s'étaient illusionnés jusqu'à un grave péril. Ils pensaient tenir ces esclaves noirs sous contrôle jusqu'à ce que la rébellion éclate et se propage. On ne peut qu'imaginer l'horreur des maîtres d'esclaves à mesure que la rébellion s'étendait et qu'ils devenaient l'objet de la terreur. Les maîtres d'esclaves subissaient les conséquences de leurs propres actions brutales, car la Bible enseigne : « Nous récoltons ce que nous semons. »

​Semez la brutalité, et nous récolterons la brutalité. Les maîtres d'esclaves ont abusé et traité brutalement les esclaves, et les esclaves ont déchaîné une grande violence contre leurs oppresseurs. Haïti a combattu les armées françaises sous le règne de Napoléon Bonaparte, l'une des figures célèbres de l'histoire, et a défait ses armées. Alors que les armées de Napoléon conquéraient des nations européennes — de puissantes nations —, elles ont été défaites par un groupe d'esclaves qui désiraient la liberté à tout prix.

​Les soldats français se battaient pour ramener l'oppression, se battaient pour préserver la richesse matérielle, mais les esclaves se battaient pour la liberté, et leur élan ainsi que leur volonté de réussir se sont révélés plus forts que les maîtres d'esclaves. À la bataille de Vertières, dans le nord d'Haïti, les Français ont subi leur défaite finale et ont capitulé, puis se sont retirés. Les esclaves avaient accompli l'impossible : ils s'étaient libérés des chaînes de l'oppression. Dans les ruines de l'esclavage, une lueur d'espoir avait jailli et s'était transformée en une flamme qui a conduit à une nation de peuple libre.

​Une histoire d'injustices et d'obstacles

​Haïti a depuis fait face à de nombreux obstacles et injustices. Le leader révolutionnaire et premier Empereur d'Haïti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a été assassiné en 1806, deux ans après l'indépendance. La nation fut bientôt divisée en deux royaumes rivaux, l'un dans le Nord et l'autre dans le Sud.

​Après quelques décennies, les Français sont revenus pour exiger des paiements pour « propriétés perdues ». Ce paiement a paralysé l'économie haïtienne. De nombreuses nations, telles que les États-Unis, ont refusé de commercer avec Haïti, de peur que les esclaves dans leurs propres pays n'y trouvent de l'inspiration. De nombreux coups d'État et l'instabilité ont suivi. Les États-Unis ont envahi et occupé Haïti de 1915 à 1934. Une dictature impitoyable, des révolutions, la violence des gangs et la mauvaise gestion économique ont brisé le pays, et beaucoup ont perdu espoir.

​La philosophie directrice de la révolte

​Mais l'un des principaux problèmes d'Haïti me semble résider dans son essence même. Habituellement, la cause de notre succès ou de nos malheurs dans la vie est fondée sur notre philosophie directrice. La mentalité des esclaves était que personne d'autre que nous-mêmes ne devait régner sur nous ; nous n'avons d'autres maîtres que nous-mêmes. Bien qu'une telle mentalité puisse inspirer quelqu'un à se révolter, elle rend le gouvernement impossible.

​Par conséquent, le peuple d'Haïti est devenu méfiant envers tous les dirigeants qui tentaient d'établir l'ordre. Beaucoup de dirigeants ont adopté les tendances des maîtres d'esclaves, gouvernant le peuple comme s'il s'agissait d'esclaves. L'oppression et la tyrannie sont devenues rampantes dans la société haïtienne. De la vie de famille à la gouvernance nationale, la tyrannie a sévi de manière rampante. Et comme nous le savons, nous récoltons ce que nous semons ; cette tyrannie mène à une révolte constante qui a maintenant conduit à un état d'anarchie.

​Le besoin d'une rééducation nationale

​Alors, quel espoir y a-t-il pour Haïti en 2026? Le peuple doit regarder au plus profond de lui-même pour trouver la cause du problème. Tous les problèmes humains sont spirituels à leurs racines, et le problème d'Haïti n'est pas différent. Le problème à la racine de la lutte d'Haïti est l'esprit de rébellion. Par conséquent, il doit y avoir une rééducation au niveau individuel, familial, et ce, jusqu'au niveau national. Le peuple doit comprendre que pour que quoi que ce soit réussisse, il doit y avoir la loi, l'ordre et la soumission. Je peux ne pas être d'accord avec certaines choses, mais il devrait y avoir des moyens non violents d'y faire face.

​Cette transformation commence au foyer. Dès les parents qui élèvent leurs enfants, ils doivent reconnaître que la manière dont ils traitent l'enfant a un impact immense sur l'avenir de la communauté et de la nation. Les parents doivent cesser de traiter leurs enfants comme s'ils étaient des esclaves — en criant, en étant impatients avec eux, et en utilisant toutes sortes d'objets pour les battre, ce qui correspond aux manières dont les maîtres d'esclaves traitaient leurs esclaves — mais les traiter avec gentillesse et fermeté.

​De plus, brûler quelqu'un avec des pneus pour avoir volé quelque chose à manger ou pour avoir volé quoi que ce soit est abhorré, et l'on peut facilement y voir un reste de la brutalité de l'esclavage. Lyncher quelqu'un pour des accidents et d'autres actions involontaires sont des crimes qui tachent une nation et révèlent un manque de respect pour la dignité humaine. Ce sont des maux qui doivent être abordés et laissés là où ils appartiennent : dans la tombe des maîtres d'esclaves défaits.

​Le moment est venu de valoriser la valeur de la vie humaine. Chaque personne doit être respectée ; même ceux qui commettent des crimes doivent être traités avec dignité, et un processus équitable doit être établi pour rendre une justice véritable, et non une justice populaire. La repentance scripturaire est pertinente ici. Dans la Bible, nous voyons à maintes reprises qu'il est parlé de nations qui oppriment le pauvre, l'orphelin, la veuve et le moins fortuné, ainsi que des conséquences qui en résultent.

​Confronter les injustices internes et la bureaucratie

​Haïti doit s'attaquer à ses propres injustices internes si elle cherche à s'élever hors du bourbier du désespoir. Il ne devrait pas y avoir une justice pour les pauvres et une autre pour les riches. Parallèlement à cela, la corruption rampante des agents du gouvernement doit être abordée. Les gens doivent payer d'immenses sommes d'argent juste pour sortir leurs produits d'un port. Si l'on n'a pas de contacts, obtenir un document national tel qu'un passeport peut être une épreuve sévère, obligeant à payer de multiples personnes. Une telle nation peut-elle prospérer?

​Cette corruption vide l'État de ses coffres. Toutes ces choses jouent un rôle dans la dégradation morale de la nation. Pour que la nation tourne la page, un détournement de ces maux est nécessaire. Une nation ne peut espérer un avenir plus radieux tout en dégradant sa propre citoyenneté. La repentance consiste à reconnaître là où vous avez tort et à vous en détourner pour faire ce qui est juste.

​Les esclaves se sont rebellés à cause de l'injustice des maîtres d'esclaves ; pourquoi continuer sur le même chemin que les maîtres d'esclaves? Les esclaves croyaient au slogan de liberté, d'égalité et de fraternité ; pourquoi en dépouiller les plus démunis du peuple?

​Une rééducation doit être faite. Les gouvernants doivent comprendre que les gens ne sont pas leurs esclaves et que s'ils veulent une prospérité véritable, ils doivent chercher le bien-être du peuple qu'ils gouvernent, au lieu de voler l'argent et de le cacher dans des banques étrangères au cas où une rébellion éclaterait. Il n'y aurait pas de rébellion si le peuple était pris en charge et si des investissements appropriés étaient faits dans le pays. Si vous voulez vivre en paix dans un quartier, assurez-vous de traiter ceux qui vous entourent avec amour et respect.

​Surmonter la mentalité de la terre brûlée

​Le peuple doit également changer sa mentalité concernant la destruction. L'esprit de destruction par la terre brûlée a pris naissance dans la rébellion contre les maîtres d'esclaves français. Les esclaves brûlaient leurs propriétés afin de les priver de ressources et de les vaincre militairement, mais une telle destruction contre vos propres propriétés est préjudiciable au développement d'une société. On peut protester sans être destructeur. Le peuple a besoin qu'on lui enseigne des manières appropriées de s'exprimer sans recourir à la violence.

​La politique de la terre brûlée lors des manifestations rend difficile l'investissement dans la nation pour les gens, car ils craignent toujours que leur dur labeur ne soit réduit à néant. De ce fait, la misère s'en trouve aggravée ; ce qui a été construit est détruit, et la peur de construire de nouvelles choses s'installe.

​Dans l'union réside la force. Les esclaves ont pu accomplir un succès historique parce qu'ils étaient unis pour un but commun, et si Haïti veut être libérée de l'esclavage du désespoir économique, sécuritaire et politique, l'unité doit être chérie. Les maîtres d'esclaves avaient instillé un esprit de méfiance parmi les esclaves noirs, et cet esprit persiste encore. Pour que Haïti renaisse des cendres du désespoir, cet esprit de désunion doit être surmonté. Apprenez à travailler les uns avec les autres ; apprenez à bâtir les uns avec les autres. La confiance est le fondement de tout mouvement fort.

​Traumatisme, leadership et guérison nationale

​Les dirigeants doivent chercher à établir la confiance avec le peuple. Un peuple traumatisé par des maîtres durs et des dirigeants politiques trouvera difficile de faire confiance. Une personne traumatisée par des maîtres durs peut devenir elle-même un maître dur, et ainsi l'esprit des maîtres d'esclaves continue de se manifester dans les générations haïtiennes successives. Le peuple haïtien a été sévèrement traumatisé et n'a jamais connu le processus de guérison. Une guérison nationale est nécessaire.

​Bien que la guérison nationale soit une œuvre massive, elle est plus facile à réaliser au niveau local. Les Haïtiens ont besoin d'encourager la confiance, de faire des choses ensemble et de se promouvoir mutuellement. On peut faire des choses seul, mais les grandes choses exigent généralement un effort d'équipe. Donner de l'argent à une personne traumatisée par des années d'abus ne résoudra pas grand-chose ; elle ne l'utilisera que pour alimenter les mécanismes de compensation des addictions. Des milliards ont été déversés en Haïti, mais l'argent disparaît dans les mains corrompues de politiciens paranoïaques.

​Les problèmes spirituels, mentaux et émotionnels ne peuvent être résolus simplement en déversant de l'argent ; les problèmes profondément enracinés doivent d'abord être abordés. Les racines du problème d'Haïti proviennent de l'oppression française, sans aucun doute, mais les générations successives jouent un grand rôle dans sa persistance puisque les problèmes fondamentaux n'ont jamais été abordés. C'est maintenant le moment de faire un changement si la société haïtienne veut connaître un avenir meilleur.

​La voie ultime vers le renouveau

​La plus grande chose qui doit être faite pour que Haïti se relève est de se soumettre au Seigneur. Cela exige une repentance nationale et la prédication du véritable évangile — l'évangile d'humilité et de soumission. Un peuple qui voit le leadership comme une oppression ne se soumettra jamais pacifiquement à quiconque, à moins que nous n'apprenions à nous soumettre à Dieu. Une fois qu'une personne se soumet à Dieu et accepte qu'Il est Celui qui règne sur toutes choses, cette personne apprendra alors à se soumettre aux dirigeants et à coopérer avec eux. Dieu agira alors en faveur d'un tel peuple.

​Y a-t-il un espoir pour Haïti en 2026? Il y a toujours de l'espoir en Dieu, peu importe la noirceur d'une situation. Mais un processus de rééducation est nécessaire ; un renouvellement de l'esprit est de la plus haute importance. En commençant au niveau individuel jusqu'au niveau national, nous devons aborder toutes les pensées corrompues qui ont pris leurs racines dans l'esclavage et développer une pensée droite basée sur la vérité, la justice et la droiture — une pensée basée sur la Parole de Dieu.

​Dans la construction du drapeau, la partie blanche qui symbolisait le maître d'esclaves français a été retirée, et pourtant, quelque 200 ans plus tard, l'œuvre des maîtres d'esclaves subsiste encore à travers sa puissance destructrice d'oppression et la promotion de la division. Le peuple haïtien a besoin de rassembler à nouveau le drapeau. Nous devons unir le pauvre avec le riche, les gens de l'arrière-pays avec les citadins, et les instruits avec les non-instruits, créant une union véritable qui transcende toutes les divisions héritées du système esclavagiste.

​Le slogan haïtien est l'union fait la force ; alors qu'il y ait unité avec Dieu et les uns avec les autres. C'est la seule façon pour que l'étincelle d'espoir devienne une autre glorieuse révolution. Ce sera une révolution contre l'esprit de rébellion, de destruction, d'injustices sociales et économiques, contre l'esprit de favoritisme et le respect pour les riches. Ce sera une glorieuse révolution qui cherchera à vivre selon l'idéal visé par les pères fondateurs : une nation libre de peuple libre, vivant en harmonie les uns avec les autres et prospérant.

Hope in ruins: Haiti's flag day 2026

 ​In 1804, Haiti became the first independent Black nation on the planet and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti became the first country in the Americas to officially abolish slavery and the only country in history founded as a result of a slave revolt.

​The Birth of the Flag

​The Haitian flag was adopted in May 1803, in Arcahaie, a city north of Port-au-Prince. The Haitians took away the white part of the French flag and left the blue and red together. The blue represented Black Africans and the red the mulattos. The flag was sewn by Catherine Flon.

​A Momentous Triumph and Its Toll

​The Haitians succeeded where the famed historical Spartacus failed. It was a momentous achievement—momentous because the racist ideology at the time was that Blacks were inferior to whites. This false ideology is something many people still cling to today, ignoring the fact that no human being is inferior to another. One may be born into inferior circumstances and opportunities, but human beings are equal in nature, and for one to ignore this reality is to delude oneself into peril.

​So, the French colonizers and slave masters had deluded themselves into a grave peril. They thought they had these Black slaves under control until rebellion broke out and spread. One can only imagine the horror of the slave masters as the rebellion spread and they became the object of terror. The slave masters were suffering the consequences of their own brutal actions, for the Bible teaches, "We reap what we sow."

​Sow brutality, and we will reap brutality. The slave masters abused and brutally treated the slaves, and the slaves unleashed great violence against their oppressors. Haiti fought against the French armies under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history's famous figures, and defeated his armies. While Napoleon's armies were conquering European nations—powerful nations—they were defeated by a group of slaves who desired freedom at all costs.

​The French soldiers were fighting to bring back oppression, fighting to preserve material wealth, but the slaves fought for liberty, and their drive and will to succeed proved stronger than the slave masters. At the Battle of Vertières, in the north of Haiti, the French suffered their final defeat and surrendered, then withdrew. Slaves had achieved the impossible: they had freed themselves from the shackles of oppression. In the ruins of slavery, a glimmer of hope had arisen and turned into a flame that led to a nation of free people.

​A History of Injustices and Obstacles

​Haiti has since faced many obstacles and injustices. Haiti's revolutionary leader and first Emperor, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, was assassinated in 1806, two years after independence. The nation was soon divided into two rival kingdoms, one in the north and the other in the south.

​After a few decades, the French returned demanding payments for "lost properties." That payment crippled the Haitian economy. Many nations, such as the United States, refused to trade with Haiti, fearing that slaves in their own countries might gain inspiration. Numerous coups and instability followed. The US invaded and occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934. Ruthless dictatorship, revolutions, gang violence, and economic mismanagement have broken the country, and many have lost hope.

​The Ruling Philosophy of Revolt

​But one of the main problems of Haiti seems to me to be in its very inception. Usually, the cause of our success or misfortunes in life is founded in our ruling philosophy. The mindset of the slaves was that no one but ourselves should rule over us; we have no masters but ourselves. While such a mindset can inspire one to revolt, it makes governing impossible.

​Consequently, the people of Haiti became wary of any leaders who attempted to establish order. Many of the leaders adopted the tendencies of the slave masters, ruling the people as if they were slaves. Oppression and tyranny became rampant in Haitian society. From family life to national governance, tyranny ran rampant. And as we know, we reap what we sow; this tyranny leads to constant revolt, which has now led to a state of lawlessness.

​The Need for National Re-Education

​So, what hope is there for Haiti in 2026? The people must look deep within as to the cause of the issue. All human issues are spiritual at their roots, and Haiti's issue is no different. The issue at the roots of Haiti's struggle is the spirit of rebellion. Therefore, there must be a re-education at the individual and family level, all the way to the national level. The people must understand that in order for anything to succeed, there must be law, order, and submission. I may not agree with certain things, but there should be nonviolent ways to go about it.

​This transformation begins in the home. From the parents raising their children, they must recognize how they treat the child is making a huge impact on the future of the community and the nation. The parents must stop treating their children as if they were slaves—yelling and being impatient with them, and using all manner of objects to beat them, which are the ways the slave masters treated their slaves—but treat them with kindness and firmness.

​Furthermore, burning someone with tires for stealing something to eat or stealing whatever is abhorrent, and one can easily see this as a leftover from the brutality of slavery. Lynching someone for accidents and other unintentional actions are crimes that stain a nation and reveal a lack of respect for human dignity. These are evils that need to be addressed and left where they belong: in the grave of the defeated slave masters.

​We must come to value the worth of human life. Every person must be respected; even those who commit crimes must be treated with dignity, and a due process must be established that delivers true justice, not mob justice. Scriptural repentance is relevant here. In the Bible, we see many times where it speaks about nations oppressing the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the less fortunate, and the resulting consequences that come as a result.

​Confronting Internal Injustices and Bureaucracy

​Haiti must address its own internal injustices if it seeks to rise out of the mire of despair. There should not be one justice for the poor and another for the rich. Along with this, the rampant corruption of government officials needs to be addressed. People have to pay huge sums of money just to get their products from a port. If one doesn't have contacts, making a national document such as a passport can be a severe ordeal, having to pay multiple people. Can such a nation thrive?

​This corruption empties the state of its coffers. If you are doing a business, don't just focus on making as much money as possible, basically extorting your customers. All these things play a part in the moral degradation of the nation. For the nation to turn the page, a turn from these evils is necessary. A nation cannot hope for a brighter future as it degrades its own citizenry. Repentance is acknowledging where you are wrong and turning from it to do what is right.

​The slaves rebelled because of the injustice of the slave masters; why continue down the same path of the slave masters? The slaves believed in the slogan of liberty, equality, and fraternity; why rob the least of the people of it?

​A re-education must be done. The rulers must understand the people are not their slaves and that if they want true prosperity, they must seek the welfare of the people they rule over, instead of stealing money and stashing it into foreign banks in case there is a rebellion. There would be no rebellion if the people were being taken care of and if proper investment was made in the country. If you want to live in peace in a neighborhood, make sure you treat those around you with love and respect.

​Overcoming the Scorched-Earth Mindset

​The people need to also change their mindsets concerning destruction. The spirit of scorched destruction originated in the rebellion against the French slave masters. The slaves burned down their properties in order to rob them of resources and defeat them militarily, but such destruction against your own properties is detrimental to the development of a society. One can protest without being destructive. The people need to be taught proper ways of expressing themselves without resorting to violence.

​The scorched-earth policy during protests makes it difficult for people to invest in the nation, as they are always fearing their hard work may go to waste. As such, the misery is compounded; what was built is destroyed, and the fear of building new things takes over.

​In unity there is strength. The slaves were able to achieve a historic success because they were united for a common goal, and if Haiti wants to be freed from the slavery of economic, security, and political despair, unity must be cherished. The slave masters had instilled a spirit of distrust amongst the Black slaves, and that spirit still persists. For Haiti to rise from the ashes of despair, that spirit of disunity must be overcome. Learn to work with each other; learn to build with each other. Trust is the foundation of any strong movement.

​Trauma, Leadership, and National Healing

​The leaders must seek to establish trust with the people. A people traumatized by harsh masters and political leaders will find it difficult to trust. A person traumatized by harsh masters can become a harsh master himself, and so the spirit of the slave masters continues to manifest itself in successive Haitian generations. The Haitian people have been severely traumatized and have never experienced the healing process. National healing is needed.

​While national healing is a massive work, it is easier to be done at the local level. Haitians need to encourage trust, doing things together and promoting each other. One can do things alone, but great things usually require a team effort. Giving money to a person traumatized by years of abuse will not solve much; they will only use it to further the coping mechanisms of addictions. Billions have been poured into Haiti, but the money disappears into the corrupt hands of paranoid politicians.

​Spiritual, mental, and emotional problems cannot be solved by simply pouring money; the deep-rooted issues must first be addressed. The roots of Haiti's problem are from French oppression, no doubt, but successive generations play a big role in its remaining since the core issues were never addressed. Now is the time to make a change if Haitian society wants to experience a better future.

​The Ultimate Path to Renewal

​The greatest thing that needs to be done in order for Haiti to rise again is to submit to the Lord. This requires a national repentance and the preaching of the true gospel—the gospel of humility and submission. A people that sees leadership as oppression will never peacefully submit to anyone unless we learn to submit to God. Once a person submits to God and accepts that He is the One who rules over all things, that person will then learn to submit to leadership and cooperate with them. God will then work on behalf of such people.

​Is there any hope for Haiti in 2026? There is always hope in God, no matter how dark a situation may look. But a re-education process is needed; a renewing of the mind is of utmost importance. Beginning at the individual level to the national level, we must address all the corrupt thinking that had its roots in slavery and develop proper thinking based on truth, justice, and righteousness—thinking based on the Word of God.

​In the construction of the flag, the white part which symbolized the French slave master was removed, and yet, some 200 years later, the work of the slave masters still remains through its destructive power of oppression and the promotion of division. The Haitian people need to put the flag together again. We must unite the poor with the rich, the country folks with the urban dwellers, and the educated with the uneducated, creating a true union that transcends all slave-system inherited divisions.

​The Haitian slogan is l'union fait la force; then let there be unity with God and with each other. This is the only way the spark of hope can become another glorious revolution. This will be a revolution against the spirit of rebellion, destruction, social and economic injustices, the spirit of favoritism, and the respect for the rich. It will be a glorious revolution that seeks to live out the ideal the founding fathers were aiming for: a free nation of free people, living in harmony with one another and prospering.