Prisoners of Our Own Freedom

Thomas B. Costain tells the story of the man who was a prisoner of his own freedom. During the fourteenth century, Raynald III was a duke in what is now Belgium. The younger brother, Edward, revolted against Duke Raynald, and placed him in prison.

Raynald’s greatest weakness was not able to control his appetite and so he was grossly overweight. Knowing this, Edward sent him delicious food every day and Raynald grew fatter until he could not pass through the door.

The conquering Edward promised his brother Raynald he was free to leave whenever he wished and on that day, his title and property would be returned to him. Anytime someone accused Duke Edward of treating Raynald cruelly he said: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”

He remained there for ten years until he was released after Edward’s death in battle. By then Raynald’s health was so bad that he died within a year. He was a prisoner of his own freedom.

Just as Raynald was enslaved by his appetite, sin will enslave all those who yield to it.

God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

The implication of the Adam and Eve story is unavoidable: True freedom is found only in obedience to God and keeping the fellowship that comes with it.

The problem today is that we continue to give up freedom through sinful disobedience and rebellion in exchange for feeding the desires of our carnal nature.

The gospel theme of true freedom through obedience and servanthood is inescapable in the Bible. Yet we miss it because it doesn’t make sense in our culture.

God’s liberating grace is abundant, but like water in a hose, it will not flow freely for us until we allow him to help us get kinks out of our spiritual life.


Remember, a train is free only so long as it stays on its tracks; a train that jumps the tracks is "free" of the rails but no longer free to achieve its potential.

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