Daily Reading: Galatians 3:21–29
The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin. (Gal. 3:22)
I watched on TV as two men in prison garb emerged from the van that had brought them from jail to the courthouse for trial. They were handcuffed together—one man’s right hand cuffed to the other’s left hand. They must have thought it out, because as soon as their feet touched the pavement they bolted toward freedom. They obviously had not considered all of the details of escape, however, because as they dashed down the sidewalk a light pole stood in their path. One man went on one side and one went on the other side of the pole. Their cuffed arms wrapped around the pole and they crashed into each other on the other side. They were prisoners still.
Sin has made us its prisoner, and apart from Christ our best attempts to escape its grip are futile. Slavery to sin is not just a problem for you and me, but for the whole world. It poisons our relationships and corrupts our cultures. It perverts our best intentions and handcuffs us in its addictions. We are its prisoner.
Among the marvelous benefits of the atonement is the breaking of the power that sin has over us. We need forgiveness for sins, but if we do not experience freedom from sin we will always be pulled back into its sticky web. In Christ, God sets us free.
If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed. Rejoice in your freedom today.
Ken Heer is the author of Ancient Fire (WPH) and has been a pastor and church leader for fifty-two years.
