In recent months I
have been given some unique touring opportunities. Last month, through a
connection here at the church, I was privileged to tour the president’s plane
while it was parked over at Travis AFB - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Notice I didn’t call it Air Force One? Some readers would be quick to point out
that it is only officially that specific call sign when the president is on
board. Despite semantics, it was an amazing morning that I will share about it
in my next article submission.
Several months
before that, I was given the opportunity to tour the notorious San Quentin
State Prison. A corrections officer pal who works there, invited my wife,
daughter and I join him and his family for the annual ‘Family Night’ event
hosted by the institution. After the residents were locked away for the night
(Thank you Lord!), the entire facility (accept for a few cell blocks) were open
for guests to meander and explore. We were able to tour the infamous ‘yard’,
the massive mess hall, the hospital, working areas, and even the execution
chamber. For hours we asked every question we could and were amazed by the
answers. The heaviest reality moment came when we were allowed to go into an actual
occupied cell. Only a few could walk in at a time due to the cramped
conditions. As I walked deeper into the cell, I could touch both opposing walls
simultaneously. It struck me that this was the life for two inmates, two grown
men. This was their ‘normal’.
Two weeks ago, we
as a nation collectively gasped at the breaking news coming from Cleveland,
Ohio. Three young women and a child escaped their imprisonment from a nightmarish
suburban scenario after ten long years. As I peck this out, details are still
being disseminated of the horror they endured together at the will of a very
deranged and perverse mind. Thankfully, through courage and opportunity, they
escaped. As I watched the news unfolding, I wondered if after almost a decade
of captivity, if their condition over time somehow took on a rhythm of normalcy.
I share and link the
prison tour and the abduction story together to make an observation – though foreign
to most – imprisonment can become normal – regular – daily life. Again, foreign,
but true.
God tells us in
the Bible that every single member of the human family is imprisoned. Our
inherent sinfulness and fallen nature stands in direct opposition to the Lord’s
holiness. We are each born with a spiritual birth defect called unrighteousness.
Scripture labels us as follows: lost, blind, dead. We are incapable of finding
our way to God – lost. We are demonically deceived – blind. We are devoid of
all hope – dead. This is our normal.
For many in Solano
County, captivity has become our normal. We are enslaved by fear. We are chained
by shame. We are incarcerated by guilt. We are shackled by regret. Yet, over
time, we’ve grown to accept it and live with it. Our self-imposed prison cells
are simply the human condition. So, just get used to it, right?
The Apostle Paul
in Galatians 5:1 tells us this – ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free’.
Jesus Christ left glorious and perpetual worship, became a man, lived a sinless
life, died an agonizing death on a cross and rose three days later so that you
could be free!
Are you living in that freedom?
My article is not
to judge you or convey any spiritual elitism. Though I’m a pastor of a local
church, I’m a real person just like
you. Like you, if you’re willing to admit it, I’m a mess. I still struggle with
a lot of stuff in my life and I’m still clearly under construction. All I really
know is that for many years I lived a life of needless imprisonment. Stuff that
I thought gave me a sense of freedom and autonomy, only lengthened my sentence
and tightened the chains on my life and potential. Then, I met somebody named
Jesus and He set me free – free to live a bigger life than I could ever live just
by myself – free from guilt and shame – free indeed.
My challenge is
simply that you would stop and take a good look at your life like I did, and
ask yourself, “Am I really free? Perhaps
like me, if you’ll be honest, you’ll see that your normal isn’t all that normal
– that you’ve simply learned to live with things that Jesus died to take away.
Friend, imprisonment
can become normal. Don’t let it become your
normal.
Jesus died to set
you free.
Are you?
The great news is
you can be!
