Down the street from the courthouse in Goldthwaite, Texas, there is a small museum containing a good variety of things, mostly related to either the adjacent jail or the courthouse. Both buildings are worth visiting for the history they contain, and for the artifacts.

The most curious artifact I found, and the one to which I returned repeatedly , was a long rope, made of the torn material of men’s shirts braided together. It was found in the attic of the jail building when renovations were being done. Try as I might, I couldn’t imagine a scenario that would explain its existence in that room. The material was clearly from shirts , and it was found lying on the floor near the single window. I asked if there had ever been a jail break from there, and was told, “No!” No one had any idea how the rope had arrived in that place, who made it, or why. Nevertheless, it was a poignant object that suggested lost hopes and ambitions: “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?” (Romans 6:16)

Whatever a “slave of righteousness” may be, it is surely better than being a “slave of sin.” Paul, who wrote these words, certainly knew the difference; this obedience to our righteous God was the hallmark of his converted life. As he knew, being a “slave of righteousness,” strenuous as it was for him, led to a joyful eternal life.

When Paul stood in chains before King Agrippa, he, Agrippa, said, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be Christian?” Paul replied,”Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:28-29)

The simple handmade rope found on the floor under the attic window of the jail in Goldthwaite spoke volumes to me of the choices we make almost unconsciously that bring us to confront our own “slavery” to righteousness or to evil. Paul’s life as known in the Bible, gives us a window into the victory associated with “righteousness”, with unblinking acknowledgment of the hardships it can mean. The victory and the freedom were worth infinitely more than the hardships to Paul.

“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18) This is God’s eternal joy, unfettered by chains or ropes.

Love in Him,

Prue