Based on Mark 6:14-29 (New King James Version)
“Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, ‘John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.’ But when Herod heard, he said, ‘This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!’ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ He also swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’ So she went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask?’ And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist!’ Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.”
One of the key lessons we can learn from this passage today is that we must not let ourselves be led by our sinful desires. It is necessary to say "we must not," because God’s Word makes it clear that we all possess free will. The Bible teaches this very plainly—showing that we retain this free will even after surrendering our lives to Christ. In other words, absolutely no one is bound to a predetermined course; rather, the fullness of God’s Word teaches us that everything comes down to a choice—especially the decision to follow Him. For instance, it says this: “All things are lawful for me…” 1 Corinthians 10:23a. What does this short phrase mean? It means that every person—even the Christian (since Paul is writing this letter to the church in Corinth)—is free to do whatever pleases them; they have the power to choose to do anything. Therefore, although there is no verse that explicitly uses the phrase "free will," this concept conveys the same meaning.
Now, if the Word tells us that Herod feared John—knowing he was a righteous and holy man—and listened to him gladly, why then did he order his beheading? What was the root of Herod's problem? Herod's serious problem was that he allowed himself to be dominated by his sinful nature. In other words, he made his decisions based on the dictates of his sinful appetites. While it is clear that Herodias was a wicked woman—as was her daughter—ultimately, Herod made all the decisions of his own free will. He was a man driven by the sin that beset him. But was this something that happened only to Herod? Here is the lesson we must learn.
We understand, then, that we have free will—or that "all things are lawful" for us—but we must also always understand that free will brings responsibility with it. Every action has a consequence. That is the order established throughout the universe. Through society, the devil wants us to believe that there is no such thing as sin, no such thing as consequences, no hell, and even that he himself does not exist. One might ask: what does the enemy gain from this? A great deal! If evil does not exist, then neither does good; instead—as many believe today—everything is relative, and there is neither right nor wrong. The enemy’s primary tactic is to get people to focus on doing their own will and to believe that nothing has consequences, because, as they say, "the only one who can make you happy is yourself." Yet no one—and certainly not the believer—should heed the enemy. Here is what the Word says: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23. And it also says: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12. We are all sinners—even after surrendering our lives to the Lord—because sin still dwells within our members. As long as we are in this flesh, we will sin. However, the crucial difference is that we must not allow ourselves to be dominated by our sin. That was Herod’s great problem: he let himself be led by his flesh and made decisions based on it. But what does God command for our own good? “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16-25. Therefore, although everything is permissible for us, we must learn to choose not to let ourselves be mastered by sin, but rather by God and His Spirit.
And finally, if we Christians have been redeemed, why worry? Because all of us, without exception, must give an account to God—especially if we know the Truth. This is what the Word says: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’” 1 Peter 4:17-18. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. So, for your own good, do not listen when you are told, "You have nothing to worry about." That is the enemy casting doubt on what God teaches, because he desires your ruin. Therefore, do not let yourself be mastered by your sin; otherwise, you will make many poor choices, and the only thing you will reap is corruption—just as Herod did. So, are you walking in the Spirit toward eternal life? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!