Freed From The Burdens Of A Lifetime

"Today's Devotion" For April 13, 2005

Read: John 8:31-36; Isaiah 53

FREED FROM THE BURDENS OF A LIFETIME

"I tell you the truth, anyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:34-36)

In the 17th Century allegory of the Christian faith, "The Pilgrim's Progress," the main character is a man named "Christian." "Christian" has a problem. It's a weighty problem. It follows him wherever he goes. It's a debilitating millstone around his neck, which burdens him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. His entire life is spent working to get out from under this load, but nothing seems to help. His entire life is enslaved by the burden he carries. We discover, as we read further, that "Christian's" burden is that of Sin. As the allegory moves along through all the scenes of "Christian's" life, it eventually takes us, with "Christian," to a place where a fence surrounds Jesus' Cross. Without a thought, "Christian" drops the burden he's been carrying all his life. It just drops off his back. His life begins anew. The allegory's image is clear. The only solution to the enslaving burden of Sin is to lay it at the Cross.

We're in the midst of another Easter festival season. Yet we still live in a guilt-ridden, guilt- driven world. We're surrounded by people, organizations, causes, alternative lifestyles, political "realities" and circumstances which play upon our guilt in order to get us to support their positions or lifestyles. Someone or something, some movement or organization always seems to want to move us where they'd like us to go, drive us to do what they want us to do, or get us to think the way they want us to think. Why we've even got groups which would have us believe that it's "our fault" that terrorists exist in the world. Some would have us believe that the fanatics threatening the freedom and peace of the Iraqi, Afghan, and other Middle Eastern peoples would go away if only "we" weren't involved in the process of building peace and freedom for others. It's a "guilt trip" that's being sold and people are buying into daily.

Of course, we don't have to look outside of ourselves to see the burden of guilt that Sin lays on each of us. It doesn't matter where people are in their lives, regrets over past behaviors and guilt-ridden consciences are commonplace. It seems that the older people get, the heavier the burden and the more difficult it is to let it go. I'm reminded of a fellow pastor who recently told me that he's going to counseling because he's burdened by "the guilt trip" his parents laid on him while he was growing up, over forty years ago. Each of us knows someone, if not the person we see in the mirror every day, who is carrying around some burden, some millstone, some regret, or some guilt that weighs heavily upon them. It may be personal, it may be family, it may have to do with their work--no matter. It's a burden that needs to be released, as "Christian's" was in "The Pilgrim's Progress," at the foot of the Cross. For until that release happens, our thinking is colored, our abilities to act for the good of others and in service to God is hindered, and we end up living our lives in ways contrary to God's Will for us.

Yet we are comforted and encouraged by Jesus' words: "Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt.11:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to free us from the burdens of Sin. He came to set us free from the slavery Sin visits upon us and the guilt that it hangs around our necks like a millstone. We've recently celebrated Jesus' victory over Sin, Death, and Satan. He overcame death and the grave so that we might receive God's forgiveness and love. Jesus carried our burdens of Sin and guilt so that we might be free from the slavery of Sin. His resurrection assures us that His sacrifice is both complete and acceptable to our Father in heaven. By faith in Christ, our Lord and Savior, we receive His precious forgiveness so that, like the weary "Christian" in "The Pilgrim's Progress," we can lay the enslaving burden of our Sin and guilt at the foot of the Cross, and leave it there forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ bore that burden for us, and still reaches out to take that burden from us each and every day of our lives. He wants us to be free to live in Him and for Him--at peace with God and humanity.

Don't let anyone cloud your mind and heart by playing on your guilt. Leave it at the foot of the Cross for Jesus to bear and you will live a life of love and service, free to serve God and others in a God-pleasing manner. Your heart and mind will be clear and your eyes will see what is truly important before God. After all, we are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that we may walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). We are free because the "Son has set (us) free."

Prayer: Father, it's all too easy for me to get hung up on my sins and failings. All too often I get sidetracked from what is truly Your purpose for my life by the burdens of Sin and guilt I fail to lay at the foot of the Cross. Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure that I may daily lay my sins at Jesus' Cross, fully trusting that He has borne my guilt and sorrow over Sin upon Himself, and I am forgiven and redeemed in His blood and righteousness. Lead me in repentance to live life free from sin and guilt and, as one of Your forgiven and baptized children, help me to live each day with joy and peace in service to You and others in Your name. In the name of my risen Savior, even Jesus Christ the Lord, I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.