A Prisoner By Choice

By Royce Frederick

Some people do not seem to see any advantage in freedom. That was the attitude of Bobby, age 39, in the Iowa State Penitentiary. He was born in a women’s reformatory of a convict mother whom he never knew, and he has spent only sixteen months of his life outside of state institutions. He has become “institutionalized.” “I don't know how to live outside,” he explains. Bobby continues to commit crimes that will return him to prison. He has even gone so far as to request a life term so that he can remain in his “home.”

Strange! We cannot avoid thinking of the joys of freedom that this man is missing. You surely do not share his attitude — or do you? Is it possible that you have chosen to remain in bondage to a bad habit or sin? Freedom from sin could be yours, if you would obey the will of Christ. He died to pay the death penalty for your sins. Paul reminded Christians, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). You can be baptized into the benefits of His death and enter into freedom forever!

Bobby is giving up perhaps forty years of social freedom, but you may be giving up all of eternity. Which is worse?