Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16
There is no middle ground here. There are two options. We are either a slave to sin-which leads to death, or a slave to obedience, which leads to righteousness (or freedom). I am a visual person, and I like to visualize a bird in a cage, the cage represents sin and the outside of the cage represents freedom. We were not meant to be in a cage our whole lives, and Christ bought us freedom on the cross, where the cage door is open. He loves us so much that He doesn’t force Himself on us, but gives us free will to choose whether or not we want to fly out into the vast oasis of life and life abundant. Unfortunately, most people choose to live in the cage for their whole life, or choose the the wide gate.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7: 13-14
Satan comes as an illusionist to make the cage (or our flesh) appear to be freedom, but it is keeping those bound that are choosing to stay in it (or stay in sin). Most birds would prefer to fly out and escape the cage that is locking it in, like my childhood bird, chippy. One day my mom was putting her hand in the cage, and the cage was outside, and Chippy found a little opening under her hand and flew out. It happened to be one of the worst days of my life, yet, it was probably the best day of Chippy’s life, because for the first time, Chippy tasted true freedom.
Who wouldn’t want to be free? You would think everyone, but unfortunately the devil kills, steals and destroys and blinds those who can’t see that they are in that cage of sin, only to keep them bound the rest of their lives. Even people that have once chosen Christ and have tasted freedom. They will fly out for a period of time, but fly back into the cage because of some false comfort, or stronghold. And that describes Hebrews 10: 26-27:
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
There are the people who do choose the narrow path and stay on it. And will they fall? Yes, but there is a difference in stumbling once in a while, repenting, and moving on, verses continual, habitual sin. It’s time to choose to fly out and never look back at the cage that once enslaved us, so that we can go from glory to glory and hear those words from Jesus, “well done, good and faithful servant”.
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18
If you can resonate with this song and want help, please reach out. Would love to pray with you to help you find the freedom that only can be found in Jesus Christ.
“Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling….”
