A STORY ABOUT FREEDOM
By Matt Miller, Lead Pastor
I once observed a man walking along a path. He was dressed for a journey, and on his back, he carried a large pack. I could tell by his walk that he was a weary traveler. With each step he took, he struggled, yet he did not stop. He was determined to complete his journey.
As I watched this weary traveler, something amazing happened. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Lord appeared and began walking next to him. Although I was a great distance away, I could hear their conversation. I heard the Lord ask, “Are you carrying what I asked you to carry?”
The weary man replied, “Yes, Lord.”
The Lord then said, “Show me.”
So as they walked, the man took off his backpack, opened it, rummaged inside, and pulled out his calling. He handed it to the Lord, but the Lord didn’t take it. Instead, He said, “I asked you to carry this. You keep it.”
The weary traveler replied, “Yes, Lord,” and placed it back inside his pack. Then I heard the Lord ask the man a second question: “What else are you carrying? Show me.”
The weary traveler looked into his pack and said, “I am carrying all sorts of things, Lord. I have food to give to the hungry, money for the poor, visits I make to those who are sick, Bible lessons I share with others, my prayer list for those I care about, and time I give to worthy causes.”
All these things, I observed, were good things.
Then the Lord said, “What else do you have? What’s in those smaller pockets?” At this question, the weary traveler looked away. Again, the Lord asked, “What’s in those smaller pockets?”
The traveler replied, “Lord, You know what’s in there.” The Lord said, “I do know. But I need you to reveal them to me.” At the Lord’s command, the weary traveler opened the small pockets and began revealing each item. I
observed him pull out a sin he kept private, bitterness he had not forgiven, pride that prevented him from asking for help, and judgments on others that made him feel better about his own struggles.
Then I heard the Lord say, “Give the bitterness to me.” It seemed like they walked several steps as the weary traveler pondered the Lord’s command. I found it odd that the Lord didn’t repeat Himself; He simply stayed in step with the traveler. Eventually, the man placed his bitterness into the Lord’s hands. What the Lord did next surprised me — He dropped the bitterness to the ground and stepped on it. At that moment, something amazing happened—the weary traveler looked, well, less weary. Both the traveler and I noticed that his load had lightened.
At this, the weary traveler began to gather up all the items in the smaller pockets, but the Lord stopped him and said, “We’ll get to those things later.” Then the Lord continued, “I want to talk to you about the good items in your pack.”
At this, the man relaxed, realizing the subject had changed. However, the Lord asked a question I did not expect: “Did I ask you to carry those things?”
The man responded, “Lord, these are good things. They help people. They need to be done.” The Lord replied, “Have I asked you to carry these things?” The man looked dumbstruck and said, “Well, no. But Lord, these are all good things.”
The Lord said, “I know these are good things, but I have not commanded you to carry them. You’ve already experienced that sin will make you weary, but so will carrying good things I haven’t asked you to carry.”
Then I heard the Lord say, “You told me about these items in your pack, but I want you to show them to me.”
The weary traveler pulled out several bags of food. The Lord said, “Give them to me.”
“Surely the Lord won’t step on these too,” I thought. But what happened next was amazing. As soon as the food was in the Lord’s hand, another traveler appeared and began walking alongside them. The Lord gave the food to the new traveler and said, “This is your calling. Take it and follow me.” The traveler took the food, placed it in her pack, and continued with the Lord.
Then the Lord held out His hand, and the weary traveler handed over the money he had been giving to the poor. Like before, another traveler appeared. The Lord handed the money to this new traveler and said, “This is your calling. Take it and follow me.” The follower obeyed and walked with the Lord. The weary traveler handed good thing after good thing to the Lord. With each item, the Lord turned a good deed into a calling for a new traveler.
Two things happened simultaneously: the weary traveler was no longer weary. His load was lightened, and he could continue along the path without struggle. But also, he felt encouraged. He realized that all the good he hoped to do would still be accomplished, just as the Lord willed. He understood that doing all the good was not his burden to carry.
As the travelers continued to walk with the Lord, I was no longer able to hear their conversation. As I watched them disappear into the distance, I reflected on my own life. What am I carrying that the Lord has not commanded? I began to consider those the Lord might be calling to walk alongside me as we follow Jesus to accomplish His will.