During the Civil war era in
the United States, slavery was an obvious point of contention.
There’s no doubt in my mind that many of the slaves’ hearts longed to be happy
again. After Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th amendment, all slaves
had been made free. Yet many remained on their plantations for various reasons.
Some believed that truly they were free and walked the pathway that lead to
their ultimate freedom, while others left one plantation for another.
In Christianity, I find that
very few believers believe that they are free. They stay enslaved to their
hurts, their past, their sorrows, and their pains.
Many of these slaves live in denial. They know deep within their hearts that
they are slaves but don’t want anyone to think of them as a slave. So they look
for ways that they can put on a smile while remaining a slave.
Some try to convince themselves in their minds that they are not slaves. Some
buy into the latest and greatest seven-step program that makes them feel good
about being a slave. Some will try to convince themselves and others that the
idea of “being a slave” is “relative” and that people shouldn’t get too caught
up in it. Others look at the ones who are free to see if there is anything in
them that they can criticize so they can feel justified for being a slave.
Still others go to great lengths to convince themselves and others that the
slavery is in fact a form of freedom!
John 8:32, 36, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Are you a simply a smiling slave or are you a Christian who lives free from
hurts, sorrows, pains, bitterness, and anger?
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