The wages of sin is death!

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Freedom is a word often used to describe liberty or independence. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for eighteen years  and his life was filled with a struggle against the then governing party, known as the Apartheid Regime. His life was a fight for freedom and he was the voice for so many black South Africans. He achieved something no one else has achieved, he re-united a divided country through democracy and South Africa is now nicknamed the Rainbow Nation. He was the catalyst in getting different ethnic groups to live as neighbours. This idea was taboo for so many white South Africans, it was so shocking that the black citizens of South Africa were forced to carry “a pass book” with them and if a policeman called for it were and when he chose and that individual could not produce the necessary identification document they were thrown in jail or beaten. Think of being a citizen of a particular country, ones place of birth and to constantly live in fear. A terrible thought but nevertheless true.

I have come through both governments in South Africa, both the National Parties rule as well as the ANC and it surprises me that as a boy growing up I was taught that what happened in South Africa was the norm, scary!

Nelson Mandela fought for freedom and he conquered the system, his people are now free, or are they? Sure, they may be free from any racial discrimination, per say, but what really constitutes freedom? The vote is now an equal vote for all South Africans, so all are free to vote, is this true freedom?

It is one thing to be free from alcohol if you were once and alcoholic but you still compulsively lie, as your life was so full of lies because of the habit that ensnared your for so long. One may be free from substance abuse and feel good about it, but unless one is able to get rid of all that associated with that vice, we will never really be free. It may appear that we are free; many might even pat us on the back and compliment us for our efforts.

Be careful of the patchwork in our lives that tricks us into believing we are free, when it is just a smokescreen keeping us from seeking our true freedom. What then is true freedom? There is one enemy that keeps us from peace and freedom in this life and that is “SIN”. It has been this way from the beginning! Life is full of different chapters to our lives; all have had some driving force that feeds and motivates us to pen words to these episodes of life, which in turn leaves us happy or sad. Accusing or excusing!

Think long and hard on the point I make, be honest with yourself, if that be possible and consider your actions throughout a day, just evaluate one day and then ask yourself if you are really free. I am not suggesting that if you once drank but now that drinking is something of the past that you are not free of alcohol, it is a given, you obviously are. But does your mind still question many facets of life trying to make head or tails of what is really the truth? So many options on so many different levels when it comes to varying religions, which one is right? That type of reasoning is tiring and it does not corroborate freedom, but confusion. Freedom goes a lot deeper than just a topic; freedom speaks about a liberty of being free from the bondage of sin and its entrapment. It speaks about a “not guilty” verdict when accusations come against you if you are charged with a particular sin. 

The breaking of God’s laws is common to every single individual. What then separates the Christian from the unbeliever? It is a simple answer; the blood of Christ has covered the sins of all Christians. They will never be charged for sin as the Lord Jesus Christ has died on their behalf. Now that is true freedom! This understanding and gift will only ever be realized if and when we understand our need for a Saviour, when we reach out beyond the measure of our own abilities and we call out to God to save our souls, in and through the One who has already paid the ultimate sacrifice; He has already been charge for the sins of mankind, it cost Him His life. He died so that we could go free. This does not mean we will be free from the daily struggles of life but we will escape the judgment of God which every individual will ultimately face. This then is true freedom! “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

I implore you to look beyond the surface, go a little deeper and ask yourself the questions are you really free?

For those of us who have been set free, this then is my encouragement; learn to live in this freedom as we put of all the sins that so easily beset, always looking to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:1-4)

May God mercifully engrave these truths upon our hearts, Amen!   

Signing off

Tyrone