Nothing’s Free (The Last Temptation, 1994)

Released in 1994, The Last Temptation is full of insight and direction of Biblical proportion. The LP includes songs about choice, virtue, vice, and redemption. The gravitas of such matters can be felt in the music and the lyrics.

“It’s a very strong concept album, a real morality play. It has a protagonist, a hero, a victim; it has a reason and a conclusion.” – Alice Cooper

The album also does a great job bridging the gap between generations of Alice fans. It’s a well-received record and a fan favorite. ‘The Last Temptation’ forces the listener to pay attention to the story as it unfolds.

There are so many details – the interactions between the Showman, Steven, and Mercy, and the album’s content, laced with virtue, vice, and redemption, tells the story of Steven but can easily translate to the listener’s life as well. It hits you where you live.

True freedom is found in Christ. A relationship with Him unleashes us from a life enslaved to sin. But the song “Nothings’ Free” tells a much different narrative. It’s a song about oppression and captivity. It’s about the ‘promise’ of freedom wrapped in a lie.

The enemy promises things he can never deliver. So instead, he pleads and persuades us to do, think, and feel things we shouldn’t. And, although we know better, we often fall for his lies and take the bait.

Nothing’s free from the rules and laws of morality
Free to take your fill
Free from your own free will
Nothing’s free

Nothing’s free from your conscience or
Free from the consequence
Free to sin to death
Free till your final breath
Nothing’s free

Free from the claws and flaws of your family
Free from obedient life
You’re cut like a double-edged knife
Nothing’s free; nothing’s free
Oh, you pay me

Free to ignore the bore of authority
Free to spit in the face
Be the winningest rat in the race till Judgement Day
Then nothing’s free
Bow to me if you wanna be free
Free from life, come die with me
And when we’re dead, it’s for eternity

The song spells out what the enemy falsely offers us, while Alice also sneaks in a few lines of truth.

We’re free to live however we want ’til (our) final breath’. Then as the song dies down, we find the enemy gloating as our ‘freedoms’ are stripped away. Unfortunately, we often fail to see and neglect the fact that not only does our Loving Father make plans for us, but so does our enemy.

Trust me…
It’s dark, and it’s cold, and alone, but you’re free
Isn’t that what you wanted?

In the song, Satan’s loud declarations become low whispers as he softly reveals his sinister plot, but only at the end.

It’s no accident. The enemy is in open rebellion with our Creator (Ephesians 6:12), slanderous towards Him (Revelation 13:6), and desires to be equal to Him (Isaiah 14:12-14).

In the beginning, we were at peace with our Creator, willing to walk in obedience and love. Life was good. However, changing the course only took a slight hint of uncertainty.

Sin wasn’t present until we were introduced to it. Not until we ‘took advice from that deceiving snake (see Brutal Planet).’  But notice, the serpent’s initial deception was not a bald-faced lie. Instead, it was accomplished by planting seeds of doubt.

The enemy uses just enough trickery to alter reality; the slightest bit is sometimes all it takes. Satan’s misleading narrative often entices humanity to believe something different than what God said and meant.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” – Genesis 3:1-5

The above-listed verses find interactions between the serpent, Eve, and Adam. Eve tells the serpent that she and Adam are not to eat or even touch the fruit from the tree (of Knowledge). But the snake pushes back; you won’t die, you will be like God, and He knows it – that hint of doubt was enough.

At that moment, Eve was convinced that God didn’t have her best interest in mind. The serpent’s temptation was enough to introduce sin to humanity.

Adam and Eve were left naked and afraid (by their own doing) and separated from God. The enemy had convinced humanity to believe God was misleading them.

They had been persuaded to think that true freedom lies with the serpent’s suggestion (in this case, eating the fruit). Knowing this, it’s safe to say that the enemy seeks to use our weaknesses against us as manipulative tools.

Like a lion searching for young, sick, or stray animals, the enemy seeks to devour those not ready for his attack (1 Peter 5:8). However, here’s the truth. We have been given the strength through Christ to deflect and resist those attempts (1 Peter 5:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13).

The enemy seeks to provide you with false hope and fulfillment. He’s always willing and ready to offer you the things of this world – trinkets, pleasures, and material possessions that may provide instant gratification but lack eternal joy or satisfaction.

The best lies are wrapped in a good bit of truth, distorted just enough to change the facts into dangerous lies – ones that can easily be believed.  Satan is no amateur – he is the “Father of Lies” aiming to instill fear and doubt through masterful deception (John 8:44), but he is not original.

That said, we should learn and know what is right and holy. Then, make choices that work towards building Christ’s kingdom here on Earth. Decisions that focus instead on the gifts we’ve been given and using those to share His Gospel, His Grace, and His Love with others (Titus 2:12-14).

In our decisions, we must consider the price paid to obtain our material goals. Is the price an eternal one? Are we willing to give up glory to wrongfully attain the things of this world?  The Good News is that we have control over our choices.  As long as we draw breath, adjusting our course is possible.

Wrapping this up, Jesus knows our needs. He’s lived here. He’s been through the same emotional and physical experiences we have, and He seeks to help us understand the spiritual realm by drawing parallels to some of the things in this world.

He takes the enormity of all eternal glory and parallels this with real things that we can see, feel, and experience daily. Jesus explains His Father’s truth in layman’s terms to help us better understand His Word.

Many things we try to force into that God-Shaped hole will lead to our demise. For some, there are only physical consequences, but for others, who have not accepted Christ, they have both physical and eternal consequences.

Freedom comes in many forms. Ironically enough, freedom through Christ first starts by submitting to His Word. Nothing’s free…. But In the process, we gain a renewed life, one without the attached limitations of this world. A life adorned by His Grace, Mercy, and Love – an eternal life.

In conclusion, this may be my favorite Alice Cooper track. Arguably, there are many more to choose from, but this track perfectly lays out the struggle and difference between the freedom to sin (to death) and our freedom found through Christ.

In the song, there’s no guessing or wondering about the enemy’s motives. Instead, it reminds us of who the enemy is and why we shouldn’t choose, trust, or consider him or his ways – why we should always resist him.

Alice mentions that his stage persona, Alice the character, never really took a position on such things until The Last Temptation LP: that album and the two after it narrate how Alice, the character, sees the world. His conclusion is this, “what this whole planet needs is a shot of morality.” Wise words – evident words.

We must remember where true “Freedom” can be found. We have one of two different eternal scenarios to choose from… Because in the end, “Nothing’s Free.”

That’s it for this week! Be well, and catch you next Friday!

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!

*Father in Heaven, we thank you for our Freedom. Freedom of choice and freedom to walk hand and hand with your Spirit. We ask that your truths remain at the forefront of our lives. That the enemy’s plots and plans be revealed and thwarted by your power and presence. We ask that your Spirit remain in our hearts, guarding us against evil and keeping us protected from the lies of the enemy. If, when, and where we’ve fallen prey to those lies, we ask that you might intervene with your truth – removing deception and replacing that with your mercy and grace. We forever thank you for your intervention on the cross. For your willingness to save us, despite our addictions to sin and self. Your love knows no end, and we are humbled by it. To you all glory and honor we give. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.