There’s no such thing as a free person. Each of us is a slave of Jesus Christ or a slave to sin. (Romans 6:16-18; John 8:34-36) We can talk about freedom and independence all we want, but they are both a myth. We are all slaves to something or someone. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I am more than happy and grateful to declare myself a slave of Jesus Christ, bound to do whatever He tells me to do. (Galatians 1:10)
He died for me, so I will live for Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 14:8) He bought me at the price of His blood and very life. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19) I no longer live outside of Christ. (Galatians 2:19-20; Colossians 3:3) I am His and He is mine, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. (John 10:14; Song of Songs 6:3)
The word “slavery” carries horrible connotations because of how men have treated their fellow human beings throughout history. But that doesn’t make all slavery bad. As with almost everything, sin has twisted what should be a good thing and contorted it into a horrific, evil, and ugly thing. To be a slave of any man is sinful and wrong. To be a slave of Jesus Christ is glorious and honorable. (Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:23-24) For a follower of Jesus, freedom is not the goal; slavery is. (Romans 6:22; 1 Corinthians 7:22)
Here’s the majestic irony in surrendering to be a slave of Jesus. Once you do, you find freedom. (John 8:36; Galatians 5:1) You find the freedom to be the person He created you to be, the freedom to know Him in full. To be a slave of Christ is to be set free from the burden of sin and hopelessness. (Romans 6:6-7; Romans 8:1-2) It is to find a life of meaning, purpose, and hope. When this life is over, slaves of Jesus will find an eternal life that has no sickness, no disease, no poverty, and no sorrow. (Revelation 21:4; John 17:3) We will find all the things we desire most only when we give up their pursuit and surrender to the Lordship of King Jesus. (Matthew 16:25; Psalm 37:4)
Physical slavery is revolting and vile. No decent person accepts or approves of enslaving another human. However, we are naïve to think we have risen above all concepts of slavery. We are naïve to think we would never choose to be a slave. Regardless of how uncomfortable and distasteful it is to consider, we all decide to be slaves every day of our lives. True freedom is an illusion in this life. You may think you are free because of your country’s constitution or your station in life, but reality paints a different picture.
If not for the grace and mercy of Christ, we all would opt to be slaves to sin. (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-12) We like sin and would be happy to indulge in it our entire lives, except for the pesky truth that sin has consequences. (Romans 6:23; Galatians 6:7-8) If we ignore those consequences, then we resolve to allow sin to be our master. If sin is the master, then we are its slaves. (Romans 6:16)
There is, of course, a better way. We can surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus and choose to be His slave. (Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1) That’s not the popular choice because it means not indulging in the sins of this world that are so enticing. Life in this world may be far less pleasant as a slave of Jesus, but we know this world and everything in it is passing away. (1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18) The payoff for loving Jesus in this world is His reward in the next. (Matthew 19:29; 2 Timothy 4:8)
We don’t love Him because of what He will give us; that’s just a bonus. We love Him because of who He is and what He did on our behalf. (1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8) Without Him, we would have no choice but to spend this life enslaved to sin and eternity suffering the judgment for that sin. (John 3:36; Ephesians 2:12) Only by trusting Jesus to break those chains of sin can we be saved from God’s wrath. (Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:13-14) He is the Master, and we are His willing and joyful slaves. (Psalm 100:2; Romans 6:17-18) All glory and honor to Jesus Christ our Savior, our Lord, our Master, and our King! (Revelation 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 1:17)