With apologies to the two or three people who read my blog (I’m not bitter), I will share, again, about one of my family members. What can I say? I’m a family guy and much of this thing called life happens alongside my wife and three kids. So, here goes: my oldest, my large-since-birth, 6’5”, 200 lb. basketball-playing son, has participated in workouts meant to improve his vertical leap and explosive power on the court. These efforts have proven themselves successful, as evidenced by the scratches and “road rash” halfway up his forearm, marks made by heavy contact with the rim standing 10 feet off the ground.

 

A key component of these workouts is the wearing of a weighted vest while running, jumping, and dunking the basketball. Toward the end of the workout, the vest is removed and my son runs and jumps with his new freedom from the extra weight he was carrying. Needless to say, he runs even faster and jumps even higher. This physical experience reminds me of the spiritual truth in Hebrews 12:1: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” We humans believe we are free when we do whatever we want, whenever we want, with whomever we want. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sin traps us, enslaves us, and entangles us. Real freedom comes from a willing “slavery” to Jesus Christ and the knowledge of His grace and love for us. As Jesus said to His followers, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Throw off the extra weight of sin in your life; run faster; jump higher; and experience the genuine freedom of life with our Savior.

 

Troy Burns