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“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7.24-25).

The wretched man is a man in misery. There are but two usages of this graphic word in the entire Book of Scripture. Of course, Paul’s description of himself before He became a believer in this passage is one of them. The other is when Jesus spoke to some self-deceived church members in the book of Revelation. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ —and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3.16-19).

Neither the Laodiceans nor Saul could possibly be called a pretty sight in the conditions identified in the prior verses. Paul was a man who sought desperately for justification though a system of works, but who found himself continually coming up short in spite of his heroic efforts. The wretched Laodiceans were on the lazy side and lulled themselves to sleep with the hum of religion droning in their ears! In each case, they were wretched; on the one hand, Paul recognized his wretchedness, while on the other hand, the Laodiceans were oblivious to their pitiable condition. But, both were wretched!

Sin has away of doing that to a man; either he knows how woefully short of the mark he comes, or he deceives himself into erroneously believing that his house is in order. Few there be who are diligent in examining themselves and taking the remedial actions necessary to bring about reconciliation with the Father. The law of sin arrests them, imprisons them, and even throws away the key! All the while as that prison door is slamming, deceit speaks so loudly that the prisoners become oblivious to all other voices and noises. Who is more secure than a prisoner who doesn’t know that his freedom has been taken away!

Rhetoric has no place in sin’s prison; it is time for things to be called as they are; the gloves need to be removed so that the stinging blows of rebuke can be felt. That is what Jesus did when He spoke to the Laodiceans, especially when He continued by saying, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Sin is not a pretty sight, nor are its consequences. It may take an ugly confrontation to rescue a friend or a brother from sin (or for that matter, to be rescued), but what ever the cost, it is worth the struggle. Jesus proved the extreme lengths to which one should go to rescue the perishing; He proved it in word, but He mightily and eternally proved it when He willingly submitted Himself to the agonies of the Cross.

The law of sin knows no reprieve or pardon except through Jesus Christ (see John 14.6). For those who find themselves hopelessly locked behind the bars of sin, Jesus came to set the captive free and to give liberty to those in bondage. Give Him His due by accepting the ransom which He willingly paid to redeem your soul!

Questions:

1. What does it mean to be wretched?

2. Did the Laodicean’s know they were wretched? Who told them they were? Was He right? How did they appraise themselves and their spiritual condition?

3. What does the Cross prove concerning the seriousness of sin and it’s consequences??

4. How can one be released from sin’s prison? Who promised salvation in Jesus’ name? Who gives salvation in His name?

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

3 steps to peace...