Born Free
Devotions for Growing Christians
Born Free
Colossians 3:1-10 - “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
For it is on account of these that the wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
Many years ago, a movie called “Born Free” told the heart-warming story of Elsa, a lion cub that was adopted as a family pet. But Elsa was not created to live in captivity. She was born free. She was meant to live free. Freedom was a struggle for Elsa. It was difficult for her to separate from the life she was used to, but she finally broke free of her old habits and adapted to the environment for which she was created.
Many growing Christians are like Elsa. God has given us a brand new life of freedom in Jesus Christ. We're free! (See John 8:36 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.) Now God wants us to live in that freedom and not be held captive by any sin. However, it can be a struggle to break free from old habits and hangups! At times it seems impossible, but God's Word assures us that victory is possible. Romans 6:14 says that "sin shall not be master over you." We are born free!
Realization
Realization is understanding and appreciating all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ. When we became Christians we received much more than "fire insurance" and a "ticket to heaven!" (v14). When we committed our lives to Jesus Christ as Lord, much more than forgiveness of sins was involved in the transaction. We died with Christ (v3). We were raised with Christ (v1). We have been given new life in Christ (v4). We will be glorified with Christ (v4).
Now let's make these truths personal. God sees the old Dave Reid crucified with Christ. God sees the new Dave Reid resurrected with Christ. The new Dave Reid is therefore free from the penalty and power of sin.
And God sees every Christian this way! Although each Christian still has physical life on this earth, he now has new spiritual life within him, and the source of this life is not earthly. The source and center and focus of this new life is Christ Himself, who is now in Heaven in all His glory, bu unseen by the world. At His return every Christian will share in that glory, and it will be plain for all to see (v4). These are fantastic truths! We cannot "feel" these facts now, but we know and realize them to be true. (See Romans 6:11.)
Constant realization of our position of freedom in Christ is a long step forward to daily victory over sin. Remember the post-World War II stories of Japanese soldiers who didn’t know the war was over, so they continued to hide on some of the Pacific Islands? They made themselves captives! They struggled for years in caves and jungles because they didn't realize that peace had been declared, and they were free!
Aspiration
Aspiration is defined a “setting your mind on things above and not on the things of this earth” (v2). This doesn’t mean that we’re to walk around with our heads in the clouds, and never think about earthly responsibilities! It means that the center of our attention and interests and thoughts should be on Jesus. (See Philippians 4:8.) If our new life is bound up in the Lord Jesus Christ, then our minds should ultimately be set on Him - a Christ mind-set! If your mind has Jesus as its focal point you won’t be hung up with sin. Think back on some of your closest moments with the Lord - did you feel like sinning then?
All right, you say, those times are beautiful, but they are rare in my life. I’m always struggling with sin. Listen. Setting your mind on things above does not happen automatically. Until we get to Heaven, the tendency to sin will always be with us, and that opposes aspiration. The Bible calls this sinful tendency the sinful nature, or the “flesh." In other words, every Christian has within him two capacities, tendencies, or natures: a divine nature because of his new spiritual life in Christ, and a sinful nature (the flesh) because of the present temporary condition of his earthly body. Even though every Christian has the Holy Spirit to empower the new life, there will still be conflict because of the flesh. (See Galatians 5:17.) But aspiration leads to victory!
It's like owning two cars - an old one and a brand new one. You are free to drive the new one, but you must take a definite action to stop driving the old car. Aspiration is driving the new car, or putting on “the new self" (v10). Aspiration includes putting gas in the new car. Bible study and prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship are high-test gas! And don’t put gas in the old car! Watching lousy TV shows, degrading movies, and filthy internet sites is not aspiration! If this is how you've been running your life lately, then don't even expect victory over sin. Setting our minds on things above will not only keep us from sin, but it will continually result in a more Christ-like life. (See v10 and Ephesians 4:2224.) Another way to describe aspiration is "walking in the Spirit." (See Romans 8:4 and Galatians 5:16, 25.) Like walking, aspiration is not automatic. We learn it - and we practice it step by step.
Mortification
Mortification is considering your earthly body as dead to sin (v5). This doesn’t imply literal mutilation of our bodies. It implies a severe rejection of all habits and practices that we know are wrong. (See Matthew 5:2930.) Remember, as far as God is concerned, the "old you" has died in Christ. Therefore "lay aside the old self with all its evil practices" (v9).
In terms of the car illustration above, mortification is keeping the old car in the garage. Consider that it’s dead! Don't even take it out for the “good old times”! Many Christians think they can sin just a little - like taking the old car out for a little drive every once in a while. But they risk ending up in a serious accident or breakdown! Involvement in impure and greedy sexual activities or "me first" tactics is like driving the old car (v5), and that’s not pleasing to God (v6). Before we trusted in Jesus, we drove the old car because that's all we had (v7). But God has judged that old car as no good - and He has condemned the old car. It’s dead! He has given us a brand new car (not just a new paint job on the old model!). So let’s leave the old car where God has placed it!
Remember, the old car won't go very far if there's no gas in it! If you say you don't have victory over sin then ask yourself: Where am I buying my gas lately - and for which car?
The Realization, Aspiration and Mortification method is a simple way to describe the basic means of how God expects us to live in freedom. It’s not easy, but God doesn’t want us chained or captive to any sin in this life. Remember - we won’t be perfect until we get to Heaven (see 1 John 1:8), but victory over sin in our lives is possible. We've been born free!
- Dave Reid