Several years ago, I visited the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean. I was there to meet with pastors and encourage the churches that faced severe persecution in this Muslim-dominated region. Some of the church leaders took me to Stone Town where there is a historical monument commemorating those sold into slavery. This was one of the main hubs for the slave trade industry in Africa. Today there are stone replicas of men, women, and children with the original chains shackled to their hands, feet, and necks. I will never forget the sick feeling I had in my stomach as I saw those real-life historical chains. I thought about families being ripped apart and being carried off into slave ships to be exported around the world. The emotions I felt were difficult to control. My mind immediately went to Galatians 5:1.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). As I stood over this slave pit, what disturbed me the most were the heavy chains around the necks of the stone replicas. I began to think of how scripture teaches that prior to salvation, we are slaves to sin (Romans 6:20). Furthermore, 2 Timothy 2:26 says, “and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
The definition for ransomed in scripture means to go to the marketplace and buy back. When Christ ransomed us from our sins, He literally went to the slave market and redeemed us. In other words, purchased us from the snare of Satan (1 Peter 1:18-19). As I turned to leave the slave pit, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Chad, could you imagine being shackled in this pit, someone purchasing your freedom, and in the middle of the night, coming back to slip on the former shackles?” This is exactly what people do when they choose sin after being ransomed.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 teaches that we are not our own because we have been bought with a price. Because Christ has ransomed us, how could we ever again yield ourselves to yokes of slavery? How can a life that has been set free from sin slip back into the slave pit and wear the shackles Christ died to abolish? Are you standing against sin, or do you readily accept it in your life? The admonition is clear…stand firm.
Sign Up For Pastor Chad’s Weekly Newsletter by clicking here!
You must be logged in to post a comment.