Living in the Light: Overcoming Limitations through Christ

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

Mayapples are generally the size of a dinner plate

I really like hiking. One spring afternoon, I was walking in the woods of a local park, when I noticed a very odd-looking plant. When I looked more closely, I realized it was one called a mayapple. For those not familiar, mayapples generally have one stalk and one leaf - about the size of a dinner plate.

What was unusual about this plant in particular was that it had grown up through a hole in a dead oak leaf. That oak leaf was restricting the mayapple leaf – to about the size of a fist.

One I saw was restricted by a dead leaf

I thought I’d do my good deed of the day and tear the oak leaf away, fully expecting to see the mayapple spring out to its normal size. What happened next surprised me. Even after the oak leaf was removed; the mayapple leaf maintained in its malformed shape. It was restricted by something that was no longer there. Although I was surprised, I wasn’t concerned because I knew that with some time, light, and water, the plant would recover and reach its full potential.

The mayapple was restricted by something that no longer limited it.

Isn’t breaking the restriction from around the mayapple leaf like what Jesus did for us? Through Christ’s victory over death, the shackles that chained us are broken – our sins are forgiven. But do we live like it? For me personally, I have to admit that all too often, I don’t. Instead of living in the light and freedom that the cross provides, I too often remain in the shadow of sin, restricted by something that is no longer there. I doubt I’m alone.

Fortunately, if we know and accept Jesus, we live in His hope. We have the opportunity to move beyond the limitations that sin placed on us. We must constantly remind ourselves that through Him, we are free – our shackles are gone. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have all the grace we need to reach beyond our human failings and achieve the full life that God intended for us.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

Through Christ, we can achieve full life, which God intends for us.