Clang-Shut

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. (Psalm 146:1-8 ESV).

In the late 1970’s I pastored a church in Huntsville, Texas. There were many experiences in those early days of ministry that have stuck with me through the years. One of them was my first visit to one of the state prison units. The warden was a member of the church and invited me to come and speak at the chapel services. He had given me directions to get to the gate and instructions in how to gain access. All went perfectly and he was waiting for me just inside the gate of the main building. As I entered, he greeted me and began the introductions to various guards that were there. As I shook hands with the first one, the gate was shut behind me and heard the loud “clang” of the locks being secured. My reaction must have been very obvious as the warden said, “Don’t worry preacher, I have the keys!”

Being charged and locked up behind bars is a humiliating experience. Handcuffs, block walls, locked doors, thorough strip and body search, confiscation of personal valuables, narrow hallways, bars, a prison cell, stainless steal toilets, concrete bunks, rattling keys, the click of the lock and then a camera that monitors your every movement in a 6' x 10' cell. There is no privacy. In case of trouble, a guard merely calls for help by touching any part of a 3' high yellow strip running along the hallways. Access to a lawyer or relative is possible through an enclosed glass partition. Dignity and self-worth slowly ebb away. It is replaced with tears, anger, bitterness and a loss of self-respect. How futile is your predicament, how bleak is your situation. Your spirit is strangled; your hope is all but extinguished. Gone are those days when you could run after rainbow dreams in childish innocence: mother's arms, a first date, the new set of wheels, a football game or that great buddy.

Most of us will never experience those things. However, there is another prison experience that many find themselves a part of in their lives. Perhaps you are imprisoned in relationships, chained to addiction, social castes, or pornography. There is a way out. You can know the “warden.” He has the keys to your freedom. Because of our human conditions, Jesus Christ bought our freedom by dying on the cross. Through faith in Him we God can give us that freedom. He is able to give you a new spirit, and a new inner joy. He is better than any lawyer is as He fills your life with hope and peace. God sets prisoners free by giving sight to the blind, food to the hungry, and lifting us up, as we are discouraged. Let Him free you today!