A few years ago, my husband and I took a vacation and drove down south. I grew up mostly in California, so I had never been south of Tennessee, other than one trip to Disney World when our kids were very young. We stopped in Knoxville, Tennessee and Mobile Alabama. We drove down to the Gulf of Mexico and I walked out to the water. Then we made our way over to Baton Rouge Louisiana and spent a day with an old high school friend. While we were in Baton Rouge, we visited a beautiful old southern plantation named Oak Alley. This sugar cane plantation was originally purchased by French Creole Valcour Aime, in 1890. He was one of the wealthiest men in the south and was known as “King of Sugar”. We both agreed that this experience was the highlight of our trip. The plantation was stunning. It was truly an experience I will always remember.

We started out walking through the slave quarters. Each shack held different information about how the slaves lived and what their lives were like. One of the most upsetting examples was a table holding the chains and shackles, chains even small enough for children. And as we stepped outside, I was struck by the disparity! Just a hundred yards away, was a large beautiful house, where the master lived!

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6 that we are no longer slaves to sin once we were baptized with Christ.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

I have never been a slave, so it is difficult to understand the depth of what Paul is saying here. The people who lived at Oak Alley were slaves. They were owned by their master. Each moment of their lives, each minute of their day, was controlled by their master. But, when we give our life to Christ, we are given freedom from sin. Sin is no longer our master.

I now live with Christ, so why would I willingly put my wrists back into the chains that Satan once held me with? Why would I willingly, walk away from the house where my new master Jesus Christ lives, to go back to sleep in the slave quarters. Once we are set free, sin has no power over us. Sin’s power of ownership over us was severed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Our chains have been cut free!

Now we all know that even after coming to Christ, we will struggle. The Devil prowls around like a roaring lion waiting on someone to devour! But we do not have to be held down by our sin any longer. Christ holds the power, and when we are tempted, we do not have to fall. So, take heart! We will struggle but in Christ we are victorious. We are free! So, when Satan grabs your arm and tries to drag you back to the slave quarters, cry out to your master. He has paid for your freedom and he will never let you suffer in chains again!