Knowing Freedom

Some time ago, I heard a reporter interview a German woman who lived through the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. When asked how she had felt when Germany was "freed" from the Nazi's, she said, "I never knew that I wasn't free until I saw the atrocities committed by the Nazi government." I could not help think of how many people are enslaved to sin and, like that woman, they don't even realize it (Rom. 6:16-18).

Do you remember how the Jews reacted when Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32)? The response went like this, "They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33). Of course, they did not think about the fact that they had been in bondage to the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks in the past, and were subjects of Rome at that very time! Then again, Jesus was not talking about physical but spiritual bondage. He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34).

All of this illustrates that it is possible for us to be or become enslaved by sin (Romans 3:23). We must always be on guard (1 Corinthians 10:12). That is why we must regularly examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). May we never delude ourselves into thinking we have spiritual freedom when we do not. On the other hand, may we ever cherish that truth that will make us free.