Read Psalms 2:1-3
1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
It struck me curiously as to why kings of the earth would see themselves as slaves? This may be through their attempt to follow God’s law and the desire to be “free” from this – and failing at both. As it is said, one “jumps from the frying pan and into the fire” with this thinking. When we do not submit to God and his will and desire to “break free” from him, we then become a slave to sin.
In John 8:34 Jesus tells the Pharisees “…everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin”. It may be the religious leaders didn’t see themselves as people who committed any sin. An honest person knows that we all slip up in what we think, say and do – things that are selfish, hurt others and separate us from God and the kingdom he has in store for us.
Romans 6:18 Paul writes “You have been set free from sin [indicating we were not free but were enslaved] and have become slaves to righteousness.” Slavery is not a choice – its sin or God’s kingdom – the only choice becomes which one would we choose for ourselves?
“The wages of sin is death.” The gift of eternal life is freedom in Christ Jesus as is written in Romans 6:23.
So, the choice is ours. “Freedom” in the sense people may think they want doesn’t exist. But the “free” gift to escape the bondage of sin is available to us all through our honest, submission to follow Jesus.
Richard Bahr 