Free
By Lexi Ellis
“ With the arrival of
Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into
Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying
black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a
strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated
lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 (The Message)
Romans 8:1-2 (The Message)
I stared at my laptop’s blank screen. Writing a paper wasn’t
usually difficult. I had to analyze a societal message and its effects in my
life. Originally, I had a researched, beautiful outline in which I wrote of my
struggles with having a healthy relationship with food. It was a comfortable
vulnerability, un-messy. And yet, my professor wanted me to re-do it. After
lots of tears, I was convicted I needed to address issues beyond my simplified
outline. I had to ask questions with unknown answers…or ones I might not like.
So after processing and praying, I approached the blank screen
and wrote how my food issues were a coping mechanism for a simple reality: I
struggle with self-hatred. It takes work to overcome a flood of critical,
self-deprecating thoughts. But even after I learned the tools to help manage
this, I felt guilty. For some reason, the guilt from struggling with
self-hatred was worse than acknowledging the “food stuff.” Here I was with this
struggle that seemed so stupid. It was terrifying to realize that acknowledging
it through writing would force me to address it.
Part of the enormous beauty of the Cross is that Christ
conquered guilt and shame. Paul writes that in Christ “there is no more condemnation.” A synonym is criticism. There is now no more criticism. What
Christ has done for us (and our acceptance of His gift along with an ongoing
relationship with Him) means we are free.
How powerful that He freed us from the bondage of hell and
the bondage of guilt! In John Bunyan’s
classic Pilgrim’s Progress, the
character Christian has been carrying a heavy, horrific burden. When he
encounters freedom in Christ, this immense baggage drops, “loosed from off his
shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to
do…and I saw it no more.”[1]
While life doesn’t always get easier, we are free from
shame. When life is hectic, it’s important to be aware the Cross also released
us from guilt. I’m thankful that a blank screen caused me to recognize - -
while it was hard to process how gripping that guilt was on my life - - I serve
a bigger God who has freed me.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What guilt/shame do you struggle
with?
2. Take it to the Lord - - He has
conquered guilt.
FURTHER READING:
Romans
8:1-4 (The Message)
Lexi recently married Andrew, serves
with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood, and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake
Country Christian Academy.
[1]
Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, chapter 3
(http://www.learnthebible.org/c_p_pilgrims_progress_chapter_3.htm)
