From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

People everywhere are mastered by someone or something. There’s not one verse in Scripture that indicates Christians can live any kind of life. When Christ enters into the human heart, He expects to be Lord and Master; He commands complete surrender.

When sin gives an order and we follow it, sin becomes the master of our lives. We become its slave. The Bible says, “You were slaves of sin” (Romans 6:17). When we come to Christ the Scripture says, “Sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:14). Sin is no longer the master—Christ is. There’s no need to dread such a thought, but rejoice!

Right here on this earth there are two worlds: a world dominated by evil and a world dominated by Christ. We have to choose between them. We have to live in this world, but we are not to be part of it. We have to be willing to be different. We have to be willing to be laughed at, sneered at, and made fun of. We have to be willing to look to the cross and take a stand for Christ where we live, where we work, and where we study. Everyone must know that we are of Christ.

Most of the world goes in one direction, but the followers of Christ go the other way, marching to the drumbeat of Heaven against the flood of evil. That’s the reason it’s so important for a follower of Jesus Christ to pray and study the Scripture daily. God gives people the freedom to choose to be mastered by the world or be mastered by the love and mercy of the Savior.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

Have you accepted Christ? Pray now.