Imagine standing in a small, dimly lit room looking in a mirror. The person standing before you clothes are tattered and torn—their hair matted and caked. You recoil at the stench. Thick, heavy chains hang around their neck and over their shoulders. Their wrists and ankles are bound. They are weighted down. Their sorrowful eyes stare at you blankly without hope.
A bright light from beyond, floods the room. You look up. The heavy chains around your neck and shoulders, wrists and ankles, break and fall to the ground. You're free! Your bondage has been broken. The chains melt away at your feet.
Your tattered clothes fall to the ground. You stand naked—bathed in white
light. A white robe is placed around your shoulders and tied with a sash. You
are radiant, clean, and beautiful.
Can you see yourself?
The chains represent the bondage of sin that entangles us now or has in
the past. Perhaps drugs, sex, violence, jealousy, rebellion towards authority, rudeness,
drunkenness, lying, cheating, stealing, gossip, pride, murder, lust,
selfishness, etc.
Sin is a blemish on our lives.
All have sinned (Romans
Head knowledge of the scriptures doesn't save us. Regular church attendance doesn't save us. Works don't save us. Tithing doesn't save us. Not that these are bad in and of themselves, but nothing has the power to save us from our sins but the cross of Christ. The blood of the Lamb.
You say, "But I was raised in a Christian home," or, "my father was the preacher," It doesn't matter, these won't save you from the fires of hell. God wants us to believe the Words about His only Son and to receive Him—and He doesn't simply want to be our Savior, but Lord of our lives. Christ died so that we could have a relationship with Him—He has a plan and purpose for our lives.
How can we find His purpose? By yielding ourselves to Him daily. Asking
Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit. Reading and studying His Word each day. By
spending time in prayer, and seeking His will for our lives. Those who seek
will find. When we incorporate these ideals, our hearts are changed, as well as
our focus.
"The thief comes only to steal and to kill and destroy; I have come
that they might have life and have it to the full," (John 10:10). We are
in a spiritual battle. Our job is to stay alert to the adversary’s schemes—to
cast down vain imaginations, to renounce every thought that causes us to think on
or to do evil. Remember, a ragged reflection does not reflect God.
Once freed from bondage, our responsibility is to remain pure, to
continue in holiness—by staying in constant fellowship with the Savior and with
other believers. Meaningful moments multiply when we are God focused. A
carefree day is only possible when we consciously worship. In so doing, the cares
of the world slip away. Like milk and lemon juice don’t mix, neither do worry
and worship.
"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our
salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over;
the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on
the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies
and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and
jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires
of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:11-14).
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he
comes and showers righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12). In order to garner
strength to rebuke the attempts of the enemy whose sole purpose is to destroy
God's children, we must remember our Savior's sacrifice. Remembering His
sacrifice refreshes our desire to fight. He helps us see and then turn our attention
away from temptation.
Once we give the reins of our lives to Jesus, we find purpose and fulfillment.
If you haven't already, ask Him to free you from the burden of sin. Worship Him. Pray and obey, and trust that He is good. Know that He lavishes his love on you.
Blessings ~ Danie
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