Knoxville, Tennessee, is a frequent trip for my wife and me. It’s her home. We stay at her sister’s house near the campus of Johnson University, my beloved “alma mater.”
On a visit last summer, I had the morning and afternoon by myself at the house, so it fell to me to take care of the family pet, a Shihtzu named “Kiki.” Kiki is still, after several years, trying to figure out if I can be trusted. I never considered that an idea for a column would come from me taking a dog out on a leash!
As I stood there contemplating which one of us was the one on the leash, it occurred to me that both Kiki and I lived on a leash! She less than me. Her leash was only momentary, but mine was constant. The only exception was that Kiki did not get to choose whose leash she lived on. I did! I still get to choose every day.
There are several kinds of leashes every person chooses to be linked to, but from Scripture they seem to fall under two choices — sin or grace. The “sin leash” is connected to Satan, the devil and his ally is “self” (the flesh). The grace leash is tethered to Jesus and the forgiveness of sin through the cross, securing the hope of eternal life.
The “self leash” is sinful behaviors of all kinds — lying, stealing, murders, sexual sin, pride, and all of them are about the elevation of self. The Bible is clear that everyone born will at some point choose this leash for their life: “…for all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23). It may be more accurate to say that this leash ensnares us — actually targets us like an assassin. No one except one, Jesus, has escaped the snapping on of this leash.
The “grace leash” comes only from God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are connected to grace through faith (trust) in the cross death of Jesus and his resurrection on the third day.
It’s my leash by choosing to obey Jesus’ commands, and it can be anyone’s leash by choice also. Many have chosen it, but most haven’t. The benefit of choosing this “leash” is that it will cancel your previous sins and it will help you to resist the temptations of sin!
If you happen to trip up and sin, the Bible promises that if you will continue to pursue turning from sin, Jesus’ blood will cover you. The expectation is that you will seek to stop sinning. Grace was never to become an excuse to continue to sin.
I chose the “grace” leash when I was 10 years old. While I have allowed sin to trick and trip me up at times over my 60-plus years, I have found grace to be a consoling and correcting leash to live under.
David Woods is founding pastor and now an elder at Park Chapel Christian Church in Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
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