When I was in college, a friend asked me to dog/house sit for her while she headed out of town for a week-long business trip. I'm not big on dogs, but he was pretty small and, not to mention, I looked forward to the peace and quiet of an unoccupied house. So I agreed.

Although Midnight was hyper, he was friendly, so it wasn't too bad. (I learned a few lessons about spot cleaning carpet. THAT I could have done without!) When it was time for my friend to return, I thought it would be a nice gesture to bring Midnight with me on my airport run.

I parked, put him on the leash and waited outside the car. Midnight's leash was the kind where you can press a button on the handle to be in complete control of how far he can go. If released, the dog is basically free; he can use the leash's full length. So, I kept my thumb on that button, the LAST thing I needed was for this dog to take off (and knowing my luck, something like that could definitely happen to me). Midnight tugged on his leash a few times, but he realized his efforts were fruitless and he soon stopped.

Minutes later, my friend came out. I released the button so the dog was free to run, but he remained in his spot. His tail wagged and he stood up, vibrating with excitement. He was obviously glad to see her but made no attempt to run up to her. Despite his glee, Midnight was rooted in his spot, almost oblivious to his freedom. To my amazement, the pup sat, fully believing that he was still bound and that I still overpowered him.

We're like that sometimes, I guess. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to free us from the bounds of sin. Despite our hunger for freedom, we remain rooted in the old bounds of slavery to sin. We allow ourselves to become so used to being on the enemy's leash that, even with the taste of freedom on our tongues, we are still bound.

We have to remember that, although we are all sinners, we cannot allow guilt to reign over our hearts. In fact, some people even stay away from ever making any kind of commitment to God for fear that they are too deep in sin for Christ to be able to pick them up.

But I'm gonna be real with you-that's a lie! Don't be lulled into a false sense of peace because of your chains. Don't reject Christ's gift by thinking that your sin is too great for His blood to wash away. There have been so many days when I've wished for do-overs that never came. But I know that I can hold my head high and say, "I've messed up before, but I am FREE today."

"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."

- Galatians 5:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus..."

- Romans 8:1

Without Christ, we were prisoners to sin and even to the strict religious laws of the day. But He has come to bring us abundant life.

"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners but the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith."

- Galatians 3:23

I believe that as Christ hung on the cross, as His body was wracked with the pain of being beaten to a pulp, He was aware of all the sins He was dying for. The sins of those present and the sins of those to come (us) weren't a mystery. Yet, He still died. So when we live by our sinful natures because we feel that's our only option, we turn our backs on His sacrifice. Can you imagine?

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

- Romans 6:18

Don't accept the enemy's short leash. You may wag or bark but don't settle for the pitiful spot that Satan has cruelly allotted for you. You are free. Don't ever forget that. You aren't free to live a life of sin, but free from sin to live a life that is pleasing to God. The leash is gone. Take that truth and LIVE.

Shari Grant is a Registered Nurse in South Florida, where she was raised in a (very!) Jamaican home. Some of the loves of her life are words (both reading and writing them) and missions work. She enjoys spending time with friends and family while living for a good laugh - one that makes her belly ache and her eyes water. Her bottom line goal in life is to make the Lord smile and maybe even serve Him up a chuckle from time to time, too.