Chains

Steven’s Scribbles
“Chains” 
Rom. 6:15-18


    I’ve been thinking about what it means to be “bound in chains” lately. When studying the Apostle Paul’s life, it is ironic that he asked for permission to go to the synagogues at Damascus, “so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). As prophesied by the Lord (Acts 9:15-16), Paul later found himself frustrated by the chains in which he was bound (Acts 26:29). By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he talks of slavery in Romans 6. While first century subjugation was not like the chattel slavery of the early Americas, which still exist across the world today, he paints a picture of what it means to serve someone or something, using the term “slavery.” “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either in sin resulting in death or in obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:16-18). Continuing the theme of irony, the only way to become free in life eternal, is to be made a slave of righteousness while on the Earth. If one fails to do so, they will not only be a slave to their baser needs, but they will experience eternal chains. We have a glimpse of this when we look at the eternal punishment of rebellious angels. “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but bonded their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6). You have a choice. Chains now and freedom eternally. Or “freedom” now and chains eternally. Choose wisely. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley