“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” (Rom 6:11-13, NIV2)

Have you ever noticed when a police cruiser shows up on a highway, all traffic slows down? No one wants to end up with a speeding ticket!

In Scotland, the police are even more pro-active. They have put numerous radar speed traps all over Scottish road, especially on the highways. Signs warn drivers in advance about these, and you can be sure that everyone slows down.

What most don’t know is that many of these radar speed traps are not even functioning, and even if you do know this, there is no way to know in advance which ones are active and which are not. Unless, that is, you have a GPS that can detect their functionality.

To most drivers, those speed traps are their reality, and they well know the hefty consequences of ignoring their presence.

Sadly in life, many don’t take that to heart, and this time I am not talking about speed traps, but about the warnings about addictions that turn in to what we call in spiritual terms, “sin”. To them, their fascination over an unhealthy habit is their reality, and nothing can stop them from pursuing it, even if it will cost their lives. Their vice, their reality, brings them down to the level of an automaton, or in other words a robot that is programed to self-destruct.

This doesn’t have to be. We weren’t created to beat the rules and find ourselves completely hopeless in our addictions. Still, many are addicted, and they don’t know what to do about it. The warning bells may be ringing persistently, but they have no clue how do break free. How can our vices be overcome if they are our only reality?

That’s exactly what the problem is: our vices have become our reality, so much that our addictions are way more important than family, love, relationships, and even our means to make a living!

As long as our sin looks more real to us than our loving Father in Heaven, our vice will continue to dominate us, no matter how hard we work to get rid of it. However, if we let our Father in Heaven become our reality instead of our addiction, then victory is right at our doorstep. In one moment it is done with, never to reoccur. True, for some it will take some time for that reality to sink in, but victory will be forthcoming: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)

Yes, the evil one will try anything to keep us in bondage. That’s his goal. If we rely on our own power, there is no way we could become or remain victorious. Bathing in the reality of our Father is what makes us victorious. The evil one has no chance of succeeding.

Why?

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1John 4:4, NIV2) God has truly become our reality!

Warning! Speed trap ahead!

What will you do about it?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Radical Grace From the Book of Romans” devotional series, please click here.)