Liz is a heavy smoker...
Illustration
Liz is a heavy smoker. Well into her 70s, Liz has chain-smoked for nigh onto 60 years. Recently, Liz underwent major surgery. The operation didn't go well. And Liz suffered numerous set backs on the road to recovery.
There was one benefit in all this: while in the hospital, Liz was not allowed to smoke. For five months, Liz was tobacco free. She was proud of this, and never failed to include a prayer of thanksgiving for newfound freedom.
The day finally came when Liz was allowed to go home. She was confident that when she went home, she would not start smoking. "I even had my apartment repainted, the carpets cleaned to rid them of smoke, pastor," she proudly said.
On my first visit to Liz' house later that week, I could clearly detect the smell of smoke despite the humming of a floor fan. Liz broke into tears and confessed, "Pastor, these cigarettes are like a weight around my neck. I thought I was free, but they pulled me down again. I feel so bad."
That's like the yoke of slavery Paul talks about, isn't it? And it is indeed heavy. Christ sets us free, stands beside us as we fight to remain free. But don't be deceived: it is a struggle each step of the way.
--Becker 2
There was one benefit in all this: while in the hospital, Liz was not allowed to smoke. For five months, Liz was tobacco free. She was proud of this, and never failed to include a prayer of thanksgiving for newfound freedom.
The day finally came when Liz was allowed to go home. She was confident that when she went home, she would not start smoking. "I even had my apartment repainted, the carpets cleaned to rid them of smoke, pastor," she proudly said.
On my first visit to Liz' house later that week, I could clearly detect the smell of smoke despite the humming of a floor fan. Liz broke into tears and confessed, "Pastor, these cigarettes are like a weight around my neck. I thought I was free, but they pulled me down again. I feel so bad."
That's like the yoke of slavery Paul talks about, isn't it? And it is indeed heavy. Christ sets us free, stands beside us as we fight to remain free. But don't be deceived: it is a struggle each step of the way.
--Becker 2
