Smell of Death

In Romans 6:16, Paul makes one of the most important observations in his letters. He writes, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.”

The best choice is to be a slave to obedience to God. This results in righteousness and life. The alternative is choosing to obey anything else and become a slave to sin. These sinful things that come to possess you might be such things as addiction, pleasure, entertainment, sinful behaviors or beliefs, or self-centeredness. 

In modern times it’s hard to understand the stark nature of this choice. All of society is geared to convince you that everything revolves around you, your pleasure, and your desires. Sin and self-centeredness are put forth as admirable qualities…qualities that give you freedom and a fulfilling life. Since the modern world is relatively peaceful and affluent, it is tempting to accept what the world offers. 

In contrast, the Bible says that slavery to sin leads to death! It’s a constant struggle for anybody to remember that their natural state is living around the rotting, stinking smell of death.