Delightful Bondage?

We received a phone call late one night from a dear friend.  The voice on the other end was filled with tears and trembling.  The words were almost imperceptible.  But finally they made their way through; “He left me!” 

The conversation dragged long into the night, but not like the weeks and months which followed.  They lasted much longer.  Several nights a week my wife and I would invite the family in to talk about their confusion, pain, heartache, and loss. 

We pleaded with the husband to return. It was his duty to provide and lead his family and not abandon them for some “hot-thang”.  We detailed for him the pain that had come and would continue to come because of his need to be “free” from the shackles of marriage.  But all of it fell on deaf ears.

As the weeks became months, and the months became years, it was like watching a slow train wreck that we could not stop.  We could walk into it, but we could not rescue those in the midst of it.  We helped to soften the blow by being a shoulder to cry on, a couch to fall asleep on, and a home to which they could run.  But other then that, we could do nothing but watch and wait.  In time, the visits diminished, the tears dried up, but the pain remained like hot lava that was crusted over, hiding the hot seething anger below.  

Then another painful truth emerged; sin begets sin.  It doesn't matter who started it.  Eventually it will breed like unsupervised rabbits.  We thought the train wreck had stopped, but discovered that it only jumped rails and continued down another path. 

Drugs, alcohol, rebellion, and many other forms of iniquity found their way into the lives of those that were once considered victims.  And justification for ones behavior was discovered under every nook and cranny.  Needless to say, none of it looked like freedom.  In the end, some recovered and carried on as best they could, while others never recovered.

The story above does not represent one incident, but an amalgamation of many incidents that my wife and I experienced over the years in our attempt to help others that were going through a terrible time in their life.

I've heard many non-believers say; “To follow the Bible as a guide for your life is to put yourself into bondage.”   In other words, they are free to do as they please, while I am imprisoned by His commands.

What the non-believer doesn't seem to understand is that the Lord’s commands are not there to enslave us or to put us into bondage.  They are there to free us from the bondage of sin. 

Psalm 119:105 says; “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”   Along with reflecting God’s righteousness, and leading us to salvation, his Word is there to guide and protect us from the dangers brought on by sin.

For example, the story above illustrates that one man’s desire to be free from marriage – by committing adultery – inevitably damages relationships that took years to build; and not just with his wife and children.  It destroys relationships with friends, family, and co-workers.  It also causes others to fall into sin which leads to more damaged lives.  Finances and property are lost and ruined.   Friendships and trust between affected parties can take forever to mend, if they ever do mend.    

The damage caused by one sin can bring many into emotional bondage, financial bondage, physical bondage, and even worse, death.  The aftermath of ignoring God’s commands does not lead to freedom; it leads to bondage and enslavement. 

Our children have learned that if they lie to us, they will be grounded.  Once grounded, they can no longer talk to or spend time with their friends nor do they get to watch their favorite television programs.  They are pretty much bound to the house or their room.  Ask them if they feel free and you’ll get a quick response; “NO!”

I could go on and on – stealing, coveting, lying, fornication, disobeying parents, etc – but in every case, each commandment that is broken leads the person into some type of bondage.   The ultimate bondage however is the sin of denying Jesus Christ.  That is a bondage that will last for all eternity. 

Therefore, to say that I’m in “bondage” when I follow God’s commands is to be naïve to the consequences of sin.   I am free when I walk in His commands.   When I abstain from lying to my wife, or to my parents, or to my children; then I can have a rewarding relationship with them for years to come.  They can put their confidence in me.  They can trust me when I say I’m going to do this or that.  I am free from the consequences that a lie can bring.

To put it simply, every command given to us from the Lord is there for our benefit.  

To follow His commands does not however guarantee that life will be simple and easy.  Like I said earlier, the consequences of sin have a wide and lasting impact on others.   Just think through each of the commands and you will see how sin can and does destroy the lives of others that were not even partakers of that sin. 

Therefore, if to abide in Jesus Christ and His Word is bondage by a non-believers definition; then I must say, it is a delightful one!