05/12/2026
2 Peter 2:19–20 - “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity, for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.’ If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
Peter is addressing false teachers who lead people astray by promising freedom, while they themselves are enslaved. These are not people outside the church, but within it. They offer what sounds like life, but their path leads to bo***ge.
I remember being 14 years old and thinking that following Christ seemed boring, while the world appeared to offer freedom and excitement. I chased that kind of “freedom” for years through drugs and alcohol, believing it would bring life. Instead, it mastered me. Sin is never content to stay small. It may wait patiently, but it eventually seeks to control, enslave, and rob you of true freedom. It pulls you away from your true Master, Jesus Christ, and demands that you serve it instead.
This past week, while preaching, I talked about being “fruit inspectors,” looking at the results of someone’s life before allowing them to influence us. In an age where everyone has a platform, we need to be careful who we allow to shape us. Many people have something to tell you, but are they themselves enslaved? Look for people who bear fruit, demonstrate wisdom, and point you toward Jesus.
The world is corrupt, and it offers endless forms of escape that only lead to deeper bo***ge. Jesus is the only way out. When you have known His freedom and then return to the world searching for life, it leaves you empty and miserable. I know this personally. I knew the truth of God, had tasted the work of the Holy Spirit, and experienced the reality of His Kingdom. Yet I still went back looking for escape. It did not end well. The very things I thought would bring freedom became my master and robbed me of years of my life.
But God, who is rich in mercy and full of compassion, welcomed me back.
I am deeply grateful that He received me again. Over the past 21 years, He has not only restored me, but He has brought deep healing and even fulfilled the desires of my heart. Real freedom is only found in Jesus.
