Harry Houdini, the famed escape artist from years ago, issued a challenge wherever he went. He could be locked in any jail cell in the country, he claimed, and set himself free in short order. He always kept his promise, but one time something went wrong. Houdini entered the jail in his street clothes and the heavy metal doors clanged shut behind him. He took from his belt a concealed piece of metal, strong and flexible. He set to work immediately, but something seemed to be unusual about this lock. For thirty minutes he worked and got nowhere. An hour passed, and still he had not opened the door. By now he was bathed in sweat and panting in exasperation, but he still could not pick the lock. Finally, after laboring for two hours, Harry Houdini collapsed in frustration and failure against the door he could not unlock. But when he fell against the door, it swung open! It had never been locked at all! But in his mind, it was locked, and that was all it took to keep him from opening the door and walking out of the jail cell as a free man.

Many people unwittingly live in a spiritual jail when, in fact, Jesus Christ has already made it possible for them to be set free. By his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus has set us free from our sins. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Not only does Jesus set us free from our sins, but he also liberates us from the penalty of sin. Rom.8:1 proclaims, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Furthermore, by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus sets us free from death. He says in John 11:25-26, “…I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” It is an important question that we all must answer!

In addition to all this, Jesus sets us free to live powerful, effective, holy lives. Gal.5:13-14 teaches us — “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, don’t live as if you were still a slave to sin and death. Live the life you were called to live, a life of true spiritual freedom!

And if you have not yet accepted the freedom that Christ offers, what are you waiting for? Trust him for your salvation! Stop living in bondage and be set free!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Gal.5:1.