One of the most powerful truths we can learn as believers is to build our lives on the truth of God’s word.  Why is this? Because, as Jesus said, “the truth will set you free”.

John 8: 31-32 says, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Truth and freedom go hand-in-hand.  A powerful illustration of this is found in history.  We’ve all heard of the U.S. Civil War and how the North fought to end slavery while the South fought to preserve it.  However, the North won. By April 1865, slavery had legally ended. However, many slaves in Texas didn’t know they were free until June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived and announced the Emancipation Proclamation.  Sadly, many slaves remained enslaved even though they had been set free.

Likewise, as Christians, we have been completely set free from sin (Romans 6: 6-7).  But the sad reality is that too many of us live as though sin still controls us.  I recently heard a very powerful illustration that brought this truth home.  Before we were saved, it was as if we had a master standing behind us with a whip, forcing us to sin.  We had no choice but to obey.  But now that we are saved and set free from sin, it’s a whole different story.  That master is still there trying to get us to sin, BUT now we have a choice.  We can choose to say no to sin.  

So the next time the devil comes with his lies, let’s counter that with truth! We are set free from sin, we are brand new creations, and we are free in Christ!