I read with great interest an article from “Today in History- April 16th” which detailed the historic event of April 16th, 1862. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. This was an important step in the very long and difficult struggle toward emancipation of those dear ones held as slaves. The article describes the extremely horrific state before 1850 where slave pens, slave jails, and auction blocks were a common site in DC.

I cannot begin to identify with the horror, pain, and terror that the dear slaves must have experienced. I am thankful for President Lincoln and all those who fought and sacrificed to lead the United States out of this awful situation.

But please, do not lose sight for a single moment of the terrible spiritual slavery, my friends. Every person who has not trusted Christ as Savior and been set free from the bonds of sins is a slave to sin. Think of it.

The Lord Jesus speaks to the very religious Pharisees and says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34).

Because of the amazing sacrificial work on the cross and His glorious resurrection, the Lord Jesus graciously offers wonderful new life to all who trust Him. Paul the Apostle wrote, “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Before I trusted Christ, I was dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). But praise the Lord! “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened” (made alive) “us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Here’s what I’m thinking today: We believers are not perfect. But praise the Lord, because of our Savior, we have freedom in Him. What a joy to be rescued from the chains of sin and now freed to love, honor, and serve Him.