Free From the Pull of the Past

Under Roman law a person who had been condemned had no life of his own, no plans for the future, no personal agenda, He was the living dead. It was only a matter of time as life was measured out by the hours until gruel was shoved under the prison door. With that understanding, something the apostle Paul wrote years ago has powerful implications. To the Romans, he penned these words: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  The living dead suddenly become the dead living!   “No condemnation?” cries the prisoner. “Do you mean, ‘I’m free’?”  Can you not imagine the joy as a Roman jailer would respond, “Yes, you’re free to leave”?