There was a time in my life when I was enslaved to a habitual sin. I knew what was right and what was wrong. I tried hard to make it go away. But try as I might, slavery had become a way of life.
Finally one day I was studying Romans and read chapter 6 again. Now I grew up in church and had been a Christian for a while at that point...but it was like I just read this chapter for the first time! The light bulb went on and my life was changed forever.
The difference this time was understanding that I was in fact enslaved. I thought I had everything under control. But the truth is that sin was ruling my life and gaining more ground every day. And I had to ask myself the question found in verse 21, "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? These things result in death!"
Make no mistake about it...there was no benefit! And death...at least spiritual death...was just around the corner.
How grateful I am that the chapter doesn't end there. For Paul goes on to say, "...now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."
Eternal life. Freedom from captivity forever. The chains of sin are broken and the downward spiral has ended.
There are no words to express my gratitude.
- Holly Barrett
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