No dominion
After a strong emancipation movement among blacks, slavery was abolished in Jamaica in 1838, to take effect from 1st August. On the evening of the last day of July a large company of former slaves gathered for a solemn yet joyous occasion.
A large mahogany coffin had been constructed. All evening, the soon-to-be emancipated slaves placed, with much ceremony, all the symbols of their enslavement in the coffin – chains, leg irons, whips, padlocks etc.
celebration
A few minutes before midnight the filled coffin was lowered into the prepared hole, and at midnight they all threw dirt in to fill the hole, singing praises to God for their liberty. It was a night of thankfulness and celebration.
They possibly went back to that spot to celebrate their freedom, but NEVER did they try to resurrect those symbols of their enslavement. NEVER did they yearn for the former life! NEVER did they regret their new freedom or try to merge the two lives. Their former life as slaves was GONE – COMPLETELY GONE – NEVER to enslave them again.
Christ paid the penalty to deliver US from our SLAVERY to SIN.
Sin shall not have dominion over you – Romans 6:14
Crucified with Christ
If we are “crucified with Christ” Romans 6:6. Galatians 2:20 our old sinful nature no longer has dominion over us. We are free from slavery to sin. We have a new spiritual nature which is guided by the Holy Spirit. We have God’s power within us to enable us to resist temptation.
Unlike those Jamaican slaves, we tend to return to the burial plot and dig up the elements of our sinful nature and allow them to again ensnare us.
We need to bury our old sinful nature just as those Jamaican slaves buried their tangible evidences of slavedom – with joyfulness and thankfulness and NO DESIRE whatsoever to be connected with them again in the future. Our old sinful nature should be dead and buried: never to be raised again.
To Thee, thou dying Lamb, I all things owe:
All that I have and am; and all I know.
All that I have is now no longer mine,
And I am not mine own: Lord, I am Thine!
Take Thou my love, and consecrate it;
Burn out the dross and make it all Thine own!
Save me from self and all of earth’s ambitions
Until self has dies, and THOU dost reign alone!
author unknown
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
The freedom Christ has given to us is something that I overlook much of the time. That is one of the great reasons why, like you, my flesh has a tendency to get the best of me from time to time (I say that to my shame).
I’ve found one of the greatest motivations for serving Christ is remembering what He has done for me… His death meant my life, His bearing my sins meant my freedom from those sins…. when I think of these things my fleshly man weakens and my new man is strengthened.
Thanks for a great reminder of what to be thankful for over the Thanksgiving holiday.
LikeLike
Hi Rob. I find it is usually a matter of which nature gets the most food. When the old nature is starved and the new nature has a feast, the old is quickly defeated.
LikeLike
Praise God I am free! He whom the SON sets free, is free indeed! We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb! I enjoyed the post. God bless you!
LikeLike
We rejoice in our freedom, but I have to admit there are times when I allow my old nature to surface. Thankfully those times are fewer and fewer and there is always forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. We can rest in the “It is finished” triumphant cry of Jesus, knowing that our salvation is complete. Free indeed!
LikeLike
AMEN! So true!
LikeLike