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

There are so many details – the interactions between the Showman, Steven, and Mercy, but there is also a narrative that may parallel the listener’s life as well. 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 – a song about the ‘promise’ of freedom wrapped in a lie.

The enemy promises things he can never deliver. He pleads and persuades us to do, think, and feel unnerving things, yet 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. Alice also sneaks in a few lines of truth as well. You’re free to live however you want ’til your final breath’. Then as the song dies down, we find the enemy gloating as those ‘freedoms’ are stripped away.

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

His loud declarations become low whispers as he softly reveals his sinister plot, but only at the end. What we often fail to see and neglect is the fact that the enemy has plans for us. Not only does our Loving Father make plans for us, but so does our enemy.

It’s no accident. The enemy is in open rebellion from our Lord (Ephesians 6:12), slanderous towards Him (Revelation 13:6), and desires to be equal to Him (Isaiah 14:12-14). We were at peace with our Creator willing to walk in obedience and love. Life was good.

However, it only took a small hint of uncertainty to change the course. 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 bold-faced lie. It was accomplished by planting seeds of doubt.

Just enough trickery to alter reality, the slightest bit was all it took. Satan’s misleading narrative was all it took for humanity to be enticed to believe something different than what God said and meant.

In Genesis 3:1-5, we find the interactions between the serpent, Eve, and Adam. Eve tells the serpent that both her and Adam are not to eat, or even touch, the fruit from the tree (of Knowledge). But the snake pushes back, “You will not certainly die” is his reply. That hint of doubt was enough.

At that moment, Eve was convinced that God didn’t have her best interest in mind. It was enough to introduce sin to humanity. Thus, separating us from Him – leaving us naked and afraid (by our own doing). The enemy had convinced them that surely God isn’t giving them everything.

Instead, satan persuaded them to think that true freedom lies with him and his suggestions (in this case, eating the fruit). The enemy believes that he knows our weaknesses, and he seeks to use and manipulate us with them.

Like a lion searching for young, sick, or stray animals, he seeks to devour those that are 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.

Instead, we should learn and know what is right and holy. Make choices that work towards building His 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).

All the possessions, wealth, and power of this world are fleeting aspects of this life. They can be attained here on Earth, but they can’t be taken with you.  The one who “dies with the most toys” does not win. It’s not to say that any of those things are bad or evil on their own.

In your decisions, consider the price paid to obtain your material goals? Is this price an eternal one? Are you willing to give up glory to wrongfully attain the things of this world?  The Good News is you have control over your choices.  As long as you draw breath, it is never too late to adjust your course.

Anything the enemy offers is a lie, yet he does not utilize apparent lies. His are more dangerous, slyer, more elusive. Blatant lies would be too easy to detect, resist, and ignore.

The best lies are wrapped in a good bit of truth, distorted just enough to change the facts into a 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.

Most of his lies are seeded in the distortion of God’s existing truth. He does not come up with original content, but instead takes the Father’s truths and varies them just the slightest bit. Make no mistake; using this is a very useful form of deception. Satan’s goal is to see all humanity separated from eternal glory.

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

He takes the enormity of all eternal glory and parallels this with genuine things that we can see, feel, and experience daily.  Jesus explains his father’s truth in simple ways to help us better understand His Word.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” – John 4:13-15

Jesus speaks about the unquenchable thirst. He notes that “everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” There’s nothing in this world that can fulfill that void.

In fact, many of the 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.

As long as we live, there’s always hope. It’s true, Freedom through Christ does come with a cost. Walking in obedience to Him and submitting to His Will requires us to lay down our lives, but we gain a renewed life instead. A life lived in eternity.

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

There’s no guessing or wondering about the enemy’s motives. The song is a reminder of who the enemy is and why you shouldn’t choose, trust, or consider him or his ways – why you should always resist him.

Alice, the man, admits that the character – the villain – gets it.

In fact, Alice mentions that the character never really took a position on such things until “The Last Temptation” album. That album and the two after it are a narration of how Alice, the character, sees the world.

And his conclusion is this, “what this whole planet needs is a shot of morality.” Wise words – words that are evident.

With that, remember where true “Freedom” can be found. You have one of two different eternal scenarios. The price of sin has already been paid. All you must do is accept, embrace, and submit to the will of Christ. The other path requires you make your own payment for your sins. Because in the end, “Nothing’s Free.”

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 ends, and we are humbled by it. To you all glory and honor we give. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.