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Some opposites are not as radical as others. Ripe versus unripe is not so radical because unripe can become ripe. Mature versus immature is not necessarily so stark because, in the nature of things, immaturity usually precedes maturity. Not so with Paul’s greatest of contrasts in the final verses of Romans six.

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6.20-23; emphasis mine - jb).

“For the end of those things is death.” In this sentence, the word end means more than the termination of a thing; it includes its inherent intention or purpose; it cannot be any other way. The end of a foolish driver’s antics will be an automobile accident. The end of unwise investments will be financial losses. The end of diligent work habits is a satisfied conscience. In other words, you just can’t expect anything different. Paul’s wisdom is declared in that some things are just absolutely destined to fail; there are no two ways about it! Such is the case with sin. It may look good, smell good, feel good, taste good, and offer great promise, but the end is death! It simply cannot be any other way! Those who practice sin are destined to come to death, regardless of what the outward appearances might be.

“Having been set free from sin…, you have your fruit to holiness and the end, everlasting life.” The word end in this verse is exactly as cited previously. The believer is promised that his work will not be in vain, no matter what the appearances might be; the faithful cannot lose! Job’s friends thought for certain that his maladies were from God, but they were wrong. With the righteous, the end is not always the end. Consider the case of Stephen. Any bystander would have thought that death was victorious on that day, but he would have been wrong. The end is not always the end just as was the case with Stephen. Appearances truly can be deceiving in such matters. A bystander might have thought when Lazarus the beggar died that he was the loser while also believing that the rich man was the winner; such could not have been further from the truth! The end is not always the end! The end of righteousness is always victory!

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” A Divine law is at work in these matters. All the men who have ever lived and all the legislative bodies that that have ever voted, cannot change this law. Sin has its end and so does righteousness. This law will never be repealed; this law has no exceptions! Humans can invent cute little sayings like, “He who dies with the most toys wins,” but at the end of the day, that’s all it is, a cute little saying. The wages of sin is death! The gift of God is eternal life! This law is fixed in the heavens and concerning it, there is no appellate court which has jurisdiction!

These things being true, how hard is it to see what is best? It really boils down to deciding whether we want to be a short time winner (if you can call it that) and a long time loser, or to be a winner now (even if it is unrecognized) and a long time winner to boot! How hard is that!

Questions:

1. Who decided that the wages of sin is death?

2. Can that law be repealed, altered, avoided, or in any way have its sentence commuted?

3. What choice did Moses make concerning this law (read Hebrews 11.24-26)?

4. Wages are monies paid for services rendered in accordance with an employment agreement. Who makes the agreement to serve sin? Can that agreement be reversed? If so, who can reverse it? Who establishes the terms upon which it can be reversed?

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

3 steps to peace...