Captivity or Freedom

Yesterday I was reading from 2 Timothy and when I got to the last phrase of this passage it was like a light being turned on the world’s problems. Just read and listen to verse 26, “and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Our world is living the reality of this verse and it is easy to see the devil is up to no good. He does indeed come to, “steal, kill and destroy.” It is really not difficult to tell the difference between the devil’s work and God’s work. One ends in death and the other brings life. One is full of love and hope and the other is driven by hate. It is amazing that sin in man was birthed in his desire to control, to do his own thing. A world seeking to control and force its will on others is a world that has “been taken captive by him to do his will.” Christ Jesus never forces Himself on anyone. He makes us an incredible offer of eternal life at His expense. You don’t have to blow yourself up to make it to heaven, the ticket is on Him. And so it comes down to this simple matter: millions have been taken captive by the devil to do his will and millions have been set free by the blood of Jesus Christ to do His will. Look at the fruit and it becomes easy to tell whether we are held captive or have been set free. Jesus offers freedom, the devil offers captivity.

2Ti 2:23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
(NKJV)