A few weeks ago, I found myself reading Isaiah 5:18-21 and I'm not even sure how I landed on this passage, but I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.
"What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag wickedness behind them like a cart! They even mock God and say, “Hurry up and do something! We want to see what you can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan, for we want to know what it is.” What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever."
I'm very much like the nation of Judah because I often drag my sin around and refuse to give it up. I'm not sure if the people of Judah were being arrogant about it or what, but my sin has become a burden. It is wearing me down, the cartload is heavy. This leads me to Romans 7 when Paul talks about his struggle with sin. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." I think many times I try to fight the sin out of my own strength or I make excuses for the sin, justifying it any way I can possible. Many times I make rash promises to God that I will stop. So maybe I'm arrogant, maybe I like the sin too much so I keep dragging it around, piling up my cart no matter how heavy it is. I mean seriously, I'm a jerk for telling God I'll stop when I apparently have no intention on doing so or I wouldn't keep on throwing more into my cart. Instead I would stop dragging the crap around with me and pull over, dumping it all out.
Are you dragging around a cartload of sins that you refuse to give up?
So where do I find freedom? When can I be free? Will I continue on sinning? When will there be victory? These are questions I often find myself asking God, much like Judah. But who am I to get irritated with God and mock him when I've known the answer all along. The Lord offers an answer- His Word. If I don't take the Bible as my standard, soon all moral choices will appear fuzzy and I will continue to drag my sin behind me. This brings me to Matthew 11: 28-30, a passage that reminds me that Jesus offers help.
"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
Let Jesus Free You!!!
