Resources/Articles
Breaking Free
The elephant is the largest land animal on earth and one of the most powerful. Not many know it only takes a strong rope to restrain one. Here is how it works: When the elephant is young, he is tied to a large tree. For weeks, he will strain and pull, but the rope holds him fast. He eventually gives up. When the elephant reaches his full size and strength, he will not struggle to get free. Once he feels resistance, he stops. He still believes he is held captive and cannot break free.
Satan plays a similar trick on us to hold us captive. We are “tied” to a vice, attitude, behavior, or circumstance we feel we cannot overcome. We cannot “get past it.” We resign ourselves to believe it will never be any better than this. This is how it is going to be for the rest of our lives.
Listening to Scripture helps one understand we do not always have to remain captive to sin. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Christians have been set “free from the law of sin and death” (v. 2). In view of all that, the enemy of our souls tries to make us believe we are still dominated by sin. We cannot get out from underneath it. Our lives will never be any better.
What then do we do? Reflect on what Christ has done. He died for our sins and declared an end to sin’s control over us (v. 3). He rose from the dead and gave us hope. Those who obey Him are given the Holy Spirit. As a result, we are empowered to live victoriously in Him because “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you” (v. 11). What a blessed way of life it is to know God provides a better way to live free from the captivity of sin. Let us then have our thoughts captive in obedience to Christ.
