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| (photo from streetworkoutstkilda .com) |
What if there’s something worse than slavery?
What if physical slavery and torture are merely images of what God is calling us
out of?
What if there’s something far worse, from which He’s trying to protect us? And
what if that something is there because of our freedom of choice? We have the
freedom to choose - every second of everyday.
What if when we choose anything other than God’s perfect will for our lives, it
leads us into trouble?
What if in choosing, the bottom line is choosing who our master will be? The
human soul wants freedom. But, freedom from what? Or from whom?
What if being a slave to sin is worse than servitude or being owned and/or being
abused by another person?
With our physical eyes, we can see the horrors of slavery in
history, or around us in the flesh. We may see it in the news, or be subjected
to it in some way in our daily lives.
But it will take spiritual eyes to see the spirit realm; to see
the unimaginable horrors of the results of slavery to sin.
When we submit ourselves to God and willingly place ourselves under His authority, He opens our spiritual eyes.
He said to the apostle Paul, “I will deliver you from the Jewish people,
as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’” – Acts 26:17-19 NKJV Also
see: Numbers
22:31, 2 Kings 6:16-18)
(picture from yourpointofpride .com)
When Dave is watching a war documentary or movie that shows torture
and prison camps, I have to close my eyes or leave the room. I can’t stand the
horror of man’s treatment of man. How much worse is the horror of Satan’s treatment
of man? Honestly, I don’t want to see it. But, until we see the ugliness and horror
of Satan, we don’t really know the meaning of the word enemy. And we won’t
realize what we’re actually being rescued from.
By looking back through history and looking around us, we can
see horrors no man should know; horror we were not created to endure. By
looking at the corruption of the world around us, we can see a glimpse of what
sin promises us. Satan has no rewards for anyone in hell, only torment. He
hates all of us, even those who boast of serving him. They are submitted to his
authority, but there will be no rewards for allegiance to him, only laughter
and mocking, unfathomable grief and torture. He hates mankind with a hatred we
can’t even comprehend. You’re on the receiving end of that hatred simply
because you’re human.
God’s plan is to rescue us from that hatred. But, will you be
rescued? He leaves the choice to you. You have the freedom and the
responsibility to choose whether or not to be rescued.
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| (picture from coralspringstalk .com) |
The “default choice” is death. We have to want to be rescued.
We have to choose to reach out and take hold of the already outstretched hand
of our only Savior. Jesus already paid the price to get us out of the
punishment for sin, He paid that price while we were/are stuck in sin’s grip. (“But
God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.” – Romans 5:8 KJV)
The freedom we’re so desperately looking for is found in
Jesus Christ. Freedom is not found in the notion that there is no God to be
accountable to.
When we belong to and submit ourselves to God and become a part
of His family, His kingdom – we have true freedom.
You may ask, “Aren’t we all children of God?” Well, actually,
no.
In scripture, Jesus Himself tells certain individuals that
their father is the devil. (You are of your father the devil, and the desires
of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in
him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he
is a liar and the father of it. -John 8:44 NKJV)
Ouch!
We have to CHOOSE to be a part of the family of God; the body
of Christ. Not only do we HAVE to choose, we GET to choose! And with
that decision, comes the power and authority Jesus gave to each believer. But,
power and authority do us no good until we recognize it and take hold of it and
own it, and use it!
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| (photo from hotelspeak .com) |
So, what if – the choice is really yours? It’s not a decision
to be taken lightly, nor is it a decision to be put off. Ponder it today. Ask
questions! Talk to people. Talk to God, Himself. He’s always listening and
eager to share with you. Because, it IS your choice. You alone will be
responsible for the outcome.
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth
His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem
those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And
because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore, you are no longer a
slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ.” – Galatians 4:4-7 NKJV
(picture from clipartkid .com)
