by Kelly Moran
for 31 January 1996
Maliu Mafua walked a few blocks from jail and found a pay phone. He decided to stop and call a friend to pick him up. His friend's phone number escaped him so he called directory assistance.
You know directory assistance? You dial 411 and an operator tells you the number of the person you're trying to reach. Apparently, more numbers escaped the escaping Mafua, because he dialed 911.
Surely, you know 911!
When the phone was answered, he quickly hung up, but police responded anyway, thinking someone was in trouble. When they arrived a few moments later, they found him still in the phone booth. He was still wearing the shirt emblazoned "Property of San Mateo County Honor Camp."
He is now being held in the more-secure county jail.
At various times in the last ten years, I have visited jails and prisons in Illinois, Michigan and Texas. Let me tell you, I have no desire to be "inside." Prison is an unpleasant experience.
But some seem to thrive in the ultra-disciplined environment of prison. Perhaps those who have never had rules most need rules imposed on them when incarcerated.
Well, this is not a political discussion, but a Spiritual one. I'm not talking about a physical prison, but a Spiritual freedom. Likewise, the freedom we have in Christ is Spiritual freedom, but some reject it, seeming to thrive incarcerated to sin.
People who are religious are not immune to sin. They are not immune to slavery. Some even seem to choose slavery over freedom.
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'
"They answered him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?'
"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:31-36)
As a slave to sin, you have no place in the family of God. Can a slave free himself? Of course not. Only a member of the family could free a slave. In your case, the Son has chosen to extend not only a pardon, but an invitation for you to join the family.
What's the point of being a slave to sin? In the book of Romans, Paul points out that sin is a dead-end road. And he makes is clear that you can't do anything about it. Your only hope is to appeal to the Son for pardon. You cannot free yourself.
Paul wrote, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:22)
Here's a great cost-benefits-analysis. Choosing Sin = Death. Choosing Christ = Eternal life.
Would you rather be a slave to a brutal master, or indebted to the One who freed you?
Would you rather submit to the harsh rules of prison, or live freely by the rules of a free society?
Some people just don't seem too good at freedom. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1)
God, Thank you for freeing me.
Published weekly for 4 years and 18 weeks.
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All Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (unless otherwise noted).
Copyright 1996 by Kelly Moran.