"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin." (Rom 7:14, NIV2)
This is the reality of many amongst us. As God's Spirit doesn't reside
in them, they realize that they are in no way spiritual. Instead, they
wonder: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not
do, but what I hate I do." (Rom 7:15, NIV2) How many agree with that?
This is from where the confusion stems.
"As it is, it is no
longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me." (Rom 7:17, NIV2)
Notice that sin becomes personalized when it dominates us. That's what
happens when we fall into temptation over and over, so much that we are
now slaves of that same sin. It becomes our reality, and we feel we are
completely dominated by it. No matter how hard we try to shake it off,
it sticks to us closer than our families. It seems impossible to be
free. It's truly eating us alive. We see this sin bigger than anything
else, as it is now our reality.
"For I know that good itself does
not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to
do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Rom 7:18, NIV2) We don't
want to be that way. Still we cannot help but be bound to its demands.
We cannot be who we want to be. We are completely dominated by the
vicious, sticky, dirty secret. We are completely in despair.
"For
I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this
I keep on doing." (Rom 7:19, NIV2) We have become a slave to the sin
that seemed so innocent at first. Only too late do we realize that this
very sin has robbed us of who we truly are. It has taken us over
completely. We have no choice but to obey it.
"What a wretched
man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?"
(Rom 7:24, NIV2) How many come to that same conclusion? Living in total
misery, with no hope in sight, we live like junkies. Oh, we have tried
to break free, but it won't let us go! It has tied us in its vicious
grasp!
Good news! "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through
Jesus Christ our Lord!." (Rom 7:25a, NIV2) Only He can give us hope.
Only He can break this bondage from hell. He will make us victorious!
His reality has to become greater than the reality of our bondage! After
all, He paid the price for our freedom. He guarantees: "So if the Son
sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36, NIV2)
Your
bond to that vicious, personalized sin can be broken. After all, once
you have invited Jesus to dwell in you, "The one who is in you is
greater than the one who is in the world." (1John 4:4, NIV2)
The
people of Eastern Germany after World War 2 also lived in bondage. Their
freedom had been taken by the Russians. No one was happy. The Berlin
Wall was a heavy yoke for the many who wanted to see their loved ones in
West Berlin.
Some did the impossible, however. Their dream to
escape was bigger than their current bondage. Take, for example, the
Strelzyks. They decided to build their own hot air balloon, using scraps
of material and sewing it together. It took time, a lot of time!
Once it was finished, they were eager to try it. Within hours they would
be in West Germany. Hurray! Their first try was a fiasco, however. Their
balloon wouldn't even lift off.
They didn't give up. Their second
try was somewhat of a success. The balloon lifted off; however, the wind
changed directions, and it took them deeper into East Germany. Another
bummer.
The third try was a complete success. They were free at
last.
Imagine the joy of that freedom. No way would they ever
want to go back to the bondage of East Germany. This can be our reality
as well. No hot air balloon needed, unless we want one!
Rob
Chaffart
