Onesimus - Running full speed nowhere

We do not know much about Onesimus other than he was a run away slave from a man named Philemon, who lived in Colossae. Perhaps he had been captured by the Roman army in some battle and was forced into slavery. Maybe his slavery was because of debt. Whatever the reason, he was not very keen on being a slave and made a break for his freedom. His journey led him west to Rome, and to a divine appointment that would change his life and eternity forever.

Like Onesimus, many of us are running from something. Perhaps it is our past. Maybe it is debt, or a person we have wronged. Some may even be running from justice. While we run to try and achieve freedom, we will never actually know freedom on the run. We will always be looking over our shoulder in fear of our pursuer one day catching up with us. In our efforts to find freedom, we live in bondage.

While on the run, Onesimus encountered another man who was also a captive. This man was the Apostle Paul. Though in prison, Paul taught Onesimus how to truly be free. This freedom comes from knowing Jesus as Savior, and receiving forgiveness from sins. Onesimus was running because he was wrong. He was afraid because justice was not on his side. However, God used his flight to orchestrate Onesimus's salvation. No longer would he have to run, he was free; free in a way that he could never accomplish on his own.

Just like Onesimus, we can never truly be free until we receive Jesus as our Savior. No amount of working, running, or even penance can ever atone for our sins. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can set us free. When we receive his forgiveness, we are free. As he said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). When Onesimus met Jesus, he quit running. He sat and learned about Jesus from Paul. He found rest and restoration. Then, he did the unthinkable—he returned to his slave owner to seek his forgiveness. He carried with him a letter from Paul and set out to make things right. He went to live out Christ in his life.

While the Bible does not say anything else about Onesimus, tradition does. Christian tradition tells us that after some time of serving with Philemon in the church at Colossae, Onesimus became a pastor. Freed from his slavery, he went to pastor the church at Ephesus. This shows what God can do when we quit running, find forgiveness in Him, and surrender to his will. He can take what we think we have messed up, and turn it into something beautiful and that glorifies Him!