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Everyone knows that with freedom comes responsibility, right? Sure, we all learned this as children and as adults we surely can attest to its validity.

I remember the freedom I felt when, at age 16 when my father allowed me to take his car on my first solo drive to a friend's house. I felt pretty cool rolling down the windows, cranking up the radio (OK, the 8-track!), and pulling out of the driveway. But before I got to the end of our street I was hit with the fact that I was undertaking an awesome responsibility. After all, I had my dad's car, the family's only vehicle. He trusted me to keep return it in the same condition I had gotten it, not to mention to keep myself and others safe as well. How I behaved behind the wheel of that old Dodge brought a new sense of freedom to me, but also a keen sense of responsibility.

It was only two years later I entered college. Talk about feeling free! No more curfews, no more checking in with my mom or keeping my room neat. My parents were very proud as I was the first of their children to go to college, but concerned too. They were also a little apprehensive, I feel certain, because when I entered college it was a time when kids were "dropping out" of the mainstream, and recreational drugs were rampant, and pleasures were often put before responsibilities. As mom and dad rejoiced with me in my new-found freedom, you can be assured that they also spent time talking to me; trying to prepare me for the new experiences I would have at school.

Life is full of balancing freedoms with responsible behavior. It is the same in our relationship with God. God sent his only son to us in human form as Jesus. Jesus preached, taught, traveled, loved, experienced loss and ultimately died. His death, which was the ransom He paid for our salvation, was a gift to us, freely given because He loved us so very much. What a responsibility He took on himself, for you and me.

Through His death and resurrection, we were made free and we secured a place with Him in paradise. Now, what we do with that freedom in Christ is a very serious question. Do we go about our daily lives thinking, "I'm in," giving only minor thought to our spiritual side? Or do we take this freedom as a serious responsibility? Do we understand that the proper way to show our gratitude to the Lord is to act in a manner that follows his teachings? Do we live in accordance with the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule? Do we reach out our hands in compassion to others?

Being a follower of Jesus Christ demands a commitment and responsibility like no other element in our lives. Jesus saved our souls so that one day we may live in eternity with our Holy Father. The gratitude and thanksgiving and love we return to Him for such a gracious gift should know no bounds.

Because we are made free through God's love and the death of His beloved Son, we need to be open to His Holy Spirit, who leads us where we can be the best, most appreciative, and yes, responsible Christians possible. We are God's children and to Him be all the thanks and glory.

With freedom does indeed come responsibility; and our responsibility to God is the most important responsibility of all.

Ann Thomas Rinker has lived in Mount Airy for more than 20 years and has written for The Gazette for most of that time. She is married to Roger L. Rinker, a pastor with the Lutheran church. They have three children and one grandchild. If you would like to respond to her column, e-mail her at atrinker@verizon.net.