No matter how independent we might like to think we are, each of us serves one master or another in this life. The only question is, who is your master? Peter teaches we are all slaves to whatever defeats us (2 Peter 2:19). We all have our vices and are subject to them at different points in our lives. Perhaps it would be better to ask, “What is your master?”
But we can always trace the “what” back to a “who”. We know that all good things come from Christ (James 1:17) and that every lie finds its source in Satan (John 8:44). If we are slaves to certain lusts, desires, and passions, then our master is the devil (1 John 3:8). But if we keep ourselves pure and hold true to the gospel of Jesus, then He is indeed our Lord and Master (John 14:21; Romans 6:22).
No one likes to think of themselves as being a slave, but it is what we all are (Romans 6:16). We are slaves of Christ or slaves of Satan. Which master do you prefer? Our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) because we live to the pleasure of our Creator and God (Revelation 4:11). We choose God because He first chose us (John 15:16; 1 John 4:19). If we deny Him after coming to believe in Him, Peter warns it will be even worse for us (2 Peter 2:20-21). He likens someone who receives the truth of Christ but then returns to a life of sin to a dog that returns to its vomit (2 Peter 2:22). It’s a graphic and revolting thought. Is that how we want our lives to be, wallowing in the muck and mire of sin after being cleansed by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:26-27)?
We all answer the question of, “Who is your master?” by the way we live our lives. People who surrender their lives to the Holy Spirit will live good and godly lives (Galatians 5:24-25; 1 John 3:9), while those who love the things of this world will do wicked and evil things (1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 3:8). In the end, each of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive the just reward for our conduct (2 Corinthians 5:10). How we live today determines how we will spend eternity. While our salvation is by grace alone, and not by anything we do or don’t do (Ephesians 2:8-9), we prove the genuineness of our salvation by the choices we make and habits we embrace (James 2:17; 1 John 2:3-6).
We all want to be the good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21). Paul said his greatest desire was to hear Jesus tell Him He ran a good race (2 Timothy 4:7-8). The Apostle saw no shame in declaring himself a slave of Christ (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1). He knew what he was and chose to embrace a life of servanthood to the King of Kings rather than live for his own pleasure and glory. Can the same be said of us? Who is your master? If it’s Jesus, are you living a life consistent with your calling and conviction? Are you living as a good and obedient servant? The day is coming when the truth will be revealed. That day could be today. Are you ready?