You're Fine, Go Play

"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts." - Romans 6:11-12 (NKJV)

A young child gets hurt on the playground and comes up to their parent crying like something terminal has happened to them. The parent looks the child over real good. They don't see any real damage. They say to their child, "You're fine, go play!" They are trying to tell the child, "No matter how you feel right now, you really are okay. Just shake it off and keep going." The parent is trying to get the child to trust them and live in the reality that they are okay. "You're fine, go play."

Likewise, Christians experiencing the temptations of this world go to God in tears,  "I can't get victory over this sin. I can't win. I'll never get free." God says to us, "You're righteous. You're free. You're a child of God. You have victory over sin." We sin, but we can experience victory over sin. God's Word says, "Reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God." "Reckon" is an accounting term. You may not feel "dead to sin", but God says you are.

I did not say that Christians will never sin. Please don’t misunderstand me. A preacher once said that the road of life is filled with banana peels, meaning that we all sin. However, you do not have to continue in sin, my friend. You can live victoriously over sin. When we go to God and express, "Lord, this sin in my life is plaguing me. I feel like I must commit this sin; I can’t live without it. I feel so defeated," God looks at you and sees your struggle. He replies, "You're fine. You're righteous. You are a child of God. You are a saint. Now go live like it."

The commands in Scripture are clear. When we read them and think, "I can’t do that," God responds, "Yes, you can! Now go live it." That is the essence of reckoning—it’s an accounting term.

Imagine if I gave you a blank check filled out with the relevant details and handed it to you. It would be a sizable amount, and I bet many of you would spend it before even getting home, even though you haven’t cashed it yet. You would think, "Josh is good for the check. I trust him; he’s a man of his word." So, you’d reckon that this check represents real money, and you would begin to spend it, living as if it’s a reality—even before you actually deposit it. The idea here is about reckoning. Live as if the reality of the cross has made a difference in your life.

This is what it means to "reckon yourself dead indeed to sin and alive unto righteousness." Wake up to the reality that you are righteous, though you may sin. You are not a sinner who may live righteously every now and then. You are righteous. You are no longer bound to that lifestyle—you can truly live free from sin! God has set you free not just to avoid sin, but to live for Him. 1 John 1:9 says if we sin, we can confess it to God, and He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If God cleanses us from all unrighteousness, what is left? Nothing but righteousness (which means right standing with God).

Reflection Question: What sins do you feel defeated by that God is looking at you and saying, "You're righteous - now go live in victory over that"?

Father, thank You that through the cross of Christ, You've broken sin's power over my life. Help me to stop living like a defeated Christian and start reckoning on the reality of what You've done. When I feel overwhelmed by sin, remind me that You've already declared me free. Help me to live as if Your victory is real, because it is. In Jesus' name, amen.

Adapted from "Ready for Battle" (1 Peter 4:1-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/9n23qdh/19-ready-for-battle-1-peter-4-1-6