I spent a night in jail in my youth for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. My freedom was limited to the bars of the cell. I had no means to get out; I was at the mercy and bondage of the law. Even upon my release; it was not the end of it; the law exacted a fine and if I were to remain in “freedom”; I had to pay the fine. The law always has a cost for freedom and freedom is never free.

However; my drunkenness revealed a greater bandage. I was in a far darker prison and Satan was my warden. Ephesians 2 says; “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”(Ephesians 2:2, NASB). It was a prison with no hope or means of escape; Satan was quite willing to keep me as his slave.

But God! But God who is rich and mercy.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”(Galatians 5:1, NASB).

O, the grace that is greater than my sin and devil!

Jesus says in John 8:36; “He who the Son sets free is free indeed.” As that old song goes;,” I was in sin’s prison; o so dark and cold. Just a lost sheep wandering from God’s eternal fold; then the door swung open and Jesus said to me; I have signed your pardon; now you may go free.”

John Stott writes “Our former state is portrayed as a slavery, Jesus Christ as a liberator, conversion as an act of emancipation and the Christian life as a life of freedom.”

Bottom line?

To forsake Christ would be forsaking my only source of hope of true freedom. Lord may I ever keep my eyes on Jesus; the author and finisher of my race. Amen.