In our culture, to mention the word slavery is untactful or perhaps rude. It brings to mind our past heritage of slavery on our own continent. Yet, slavery has been around for thousands of years. As long as there have been people, one nation or culture has sought to bare power over those that are weaker or at a disadvantage. It’s all part of the human condition.
Slavery is much more than an unfortunate position that a person might find themselves in, it is very much a state of mind. We can be enchained by ideas, habits, or even personality traits.
Interestingly, some of the strongest types of slavery are those that we create ourselves. An alcoholic, living in America, might well enjoy the same freedoms of other citizens but he is very much a slave to drink. Every thought, plan, or action is geared toward getting the next drink. His master demands his time and money, and he seems to have little choice but to comply. Every other faucet in his life suffers; family and friends take a back seat to his addiction. Where he might otherwise be considered a “moral” person, for his master he will lie, steal and cheat. Eventually, once alcohol has full control, there is no limit to what he will do or sacrifice for drink. At that point, he is a full slave, with no other master but one.
Becoming a slave is a process. There is the chase, the fight, and the surrender. Whether it is physical or mental slavery, the same process is followed every time.
The Chase: The beginning of it all may seem innocent enough. Like poor villagers unaware of stalking predators, life may be simple and running smooth. When into our world walks real danger. Perhaps it’s drugs or some other type of vice, but it seems harmless enough. A ‘good’ friend asks us to do or share something, that momentarily bothers our conscience. We hesitate for a moment or two, but eventually give in for fear of looking silly or ‘old fashioned.’ Anyway, it’s just once, what can it hurt?
The Fight: At some point, the villagers realize they are being attacked. Whether the attackers presented themselves as friends or enemies to start with, the intentions eventually become crystal clear. Our attacker will also have to show his true colors at some point. Maybe a stressful day at work pushes us to the edge, and for a single second we remember the peaceful exhilaration that the drugs gave. “It would be so nice to feel like that again, not all the time of course, but just today in particular.” A sharp and sudden fear grips us as we realize the danger of that type of thinking. “That is how drug addicts think,” we tell ourselves. And yet, it’s hard to forget the feeling. It would really help calm our nerves. We wrestle for days with the thought and the stress just seems to build. “Okay, just once more, just today. That can’t do any real damage, right?”
The Surrender: The people of our village have fought and the outcome is becoming more and more obvious. The attackers are too strong and the people were unprepared. History will simply record another instance of the strong overcoming the weak, basic rules of war and engagement. What historians may not record is the look of a defeated people. I’ve seen it more than once myself. All sense of pride and self-respect is stripped away and replaced by a fear of someone or something that has control over their destiny. The vacant look and empty gaze is the same all around the world. A drug addict in America has the same look as the villagers in a distant land. Once we give into that urge on a regular basis, the capture is complete. Any real defenses have been stripped, and for all intents and purposes, we have become slaves.
There is hope, however. Jesus Christ can break any bonds of slavery, physical or mental. He is the Savior of the world. He came to free those that are bound by the shackles of sin; to release the prisoner and set the captive free.
As we read the Bible and study His word, we must remember that those promises were not only meant for other generations. We can look at our own lives and see what it is that has us bound. Whether it be drugs, alcohol, entertainment, friends, work, or any other thing that has captured our soul, Christ can free us from those bonds. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” John 8:36. |
