There is an interesting law in the Old Testament about masters, slaves, and ear piercings in Exodus 21. If a master gives a slave a wife and she bears children, in the seventh year when the slave is to be set free, the wife and children still belong to the master. The law gets interesting in verse 5: ‘But if the slave declares, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person,” then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.”
If we apply this story to the kingdom of heaven, we are the slaves, Jesus is our master, and God is still God. So, if we declare, “I love my master, Jesus, my wife, and my children, I will not go out a free person,” then Jesus will bring us before God, and shall pierce our ear, and we shall serve him for life. For clarification, we make this declaration at our baptism, and we become slaves to Christ in his service to God his Father, and we are spiritually pierced on the doorpost of heaven just as Jesus was physically pierced on the cross, and we serve him for an eternal life, not just an earthly one. Wow, lots of deep theology in such a short passage!
While so many special interest groups are demanding freedom to choose and to force their own ideology down our collective throats, I find it amazing the Word declares salvation belongs to those who submit to God the Father and Jesus the Son not just as servants but as slaves. When we are willing to give up our freedom in His service, then He can choose to call us brothers and sisters in His heavenly kingdom. Anyone want to make a declaration to Jesus today?
Grace & Peace, Charles.