"I then, as Paul - an old man and
now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus - I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he
has become useful both to you and to me." Philemon 9-11
I remember the day that
I received word that a young friend had "received life." Now in the
Christian context you might assume that he has received Christ into his life; that he has received the promise of eternal life. I wish that I could say that
this is so. He "received life" in the worldly context. He was
sentenced to life in prison, without parole. When I heard the sentence he had received, in
grief, I voiced it aloud:
"HE RECEIVED
LIFE."
There is hope in those words. It is my hope
that this sentence in this world is the sign to me that he has received life
eternal, even though he may not realize it, yet. I pray for him often. I
pray that we would be one in Christ; that he would enter into the Body of
Christ. It is painful for me to think of
one so young living behind bars for another 50 or 60 years. But, it is reality;
a hard reality; but, one that may be the very opportunity for him to
"receive life." This friend of
mine received the consequences that were due him in this life, yet, he still
has the opportunity for freedom; a freedom that is found only in Christ; for
all eternity.
We read in Philemon, Paul who is in prison
has converted a young man. Paul spent a good portion of his ministry behind
bars. Although scripture has no record of how many received the truth of Christ
through the Word spoken by Paul, I am sure there were quite a few. I guess you
could say he was called to prison ministry, but not in the way most of us view
prison ministry. He was there, living it. One on one, he experienced the pain
and suffering of those in prison with him. Because he suffered the same pain;
he understood and others listened and others received life.
There is a prison that is worse than any
earthly prison surrounded by bars and barbed wire. That is our bondage to sin; our
bondage to the desires and ways of this world; our desires to be served rather
than serve in the love of Christ. This prison is harder for us to recognize and
so we may never experience the desire to be free from this prison.
Jesus said that the truth would set us free. (John 8:32) However, for those of us who may be bound in
a prison of worldly comforts; of self-serving desires and pursuits, it can be really
hard to see or hear the truth (often preferring not to see the truth, about our need
for forgiveness, so we don't ask), remaining in bondage to sin.
As we consider our own freedom, let us ask
God to reveal to us whether we are truly free. Let us pray first for salvation;
for freedom in Christ. Let us pray for one another, in love, that forgiveness
in Christ be received by all God's children who find themselves in prison: those
in correctional facilities and those chained to the desires of this world. Let
us also pray a prayer of Thanksgiving for our Prison Chaplains and all who work
in the Prison Ministry for bringing the Light of Christ into such dark lives.
God's Peace - Pr. J
