Prisoner By Choice?

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you that ye walk worthy

of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Ephesians 4:1

Many years ago, I was on a special trip with a college group. We held evening services in various churches, so found interesting things to do during the day. Someone in our group arranged for us on a particular afternoon to take a tour of a very large state prison. I had never been in such a place and must admit to being a little nervous about the tour. I knew we would be safe, but it was just a new experience.

We were taken only to special places in the prison, of course, but there was one thing that we observed and it's something I've never forgotten. We were shown an empty holding cell and then the guard demonstrated the opening and closing of the cell door. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound as the loud, echoing clang-bang of the cell door closed. What struck me about that sound was that in many cases where prisoners are incarcerated for very long periods of time, whether coming or going, they hear that horrible sound frequently.

In the culture of Bible days, prisons were quite different. In fact, prisons were often referred to as “dungeons.” A dungeon was usually underground. A prisoner was often let down into it by guards. It was a filthy place with little if any light, and was filled with sewage and dirty water. At times guards would drop moldy bread down into the dungeon. If prisoners didn't catch it in time, it fell into the swill on the floor.

There were above ground prisons and in those, prisoners were usually chained or bound in some way. Most prisons didn't provide food or clothing so friends or relatives were relied upon for the basic needs of life. Most of the time, upon arriving at a prison for incarceration, prisoners were beaten with a lash, receiving 39 lashes across the back. That was the usual.

Some prisoners were treated with a little more care. There were those allowed to be under house arrest. These prisoners still were required to be chained or bound, often to a Roman soldier. These prisoners, too, had to be provided for with friends sending food, necessities and often were required to even pay a leasing fee for the house of the prisoners confinement.

In Scripture, we are told of familiar men who endured prison experiences. Joseph, of course, was imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potipher's wife. Jeremiah was imprisoned in a dungeon for simply telling the truth. John the Baptist was put in prison after speaking of the immorality of the kings family. Peter was imprisoned for preaching the Word of God, and later Paul and Silas were jailed for healing a possessed girl being used for money by evil merchants. In every one of these cases, each man was imprisoned unjustly. In Philippians, we find Paul under house arrest so he had more than one run in with authorities. In every case, each man was thrown in prison for either being right or doing right. They had no choice. No one in their right mind would choose to be a prisoner even in the most pristine of prisons if there was such a thing.

In most cases, however, the imprisonment of these godly men resulted in benefiting others in some way. Peter was released by an angel. Friends praying for him at the time were astounded and blessed all at the same time because of answered prayer for his release. Paul and Silas were blessings to other prisoners as they sang the praises of God in the late nighttime hours. They could have walked out of the prison after an earthquake shook the jail and a way was made for them to walk out. They didn't do that. They stayed and witnessed to the jailer who was saved along with his family. God used Joseph's prison experience to share wisdom with other prisoners and later after his release, was eventually elevated to second in command in the nation of Egypt. It all resulted in saving his family from starvation.

So how do we define “prisoner?” A prisoner is one who is usually guilty and being punished for some wrong doing but not always. A prisoner is deprived of liberty, is restrained usually in custody in a facility meant only for the incarceration of prisoners. No matter the official definition, a prisoner is one being held captive. When a prisoner, ones life is no longer her/his own. One's mind is totally occupied with being a prisoner when in prison. It's all-consuming.

I know some folks and have been one of them off and on who have found themselves (me included) prisoners. Oh, no crime has been committed but being this kind of prisoner for many is often on a voluntary basis. Satan delights when he can bind us up in circumstances of life, if in no other way. Let's face it, life isn't fair and Christians of all people aren't guaranteed a fair shake when it comes to life's circumstances. We look around and it would seem that the unsaved all around us seem to have things better than we do. However, we really don't know what others are experiencing so we will get no answers as we observe them. We can be prisoners of our own making apart from those things that come our way without asking. I know people who are prisoners to bad habits, unhealthy friendships, food, pornography, and the list could go on and on of those things people might choose to be a part of their lives, that eventually gets a hold on them.

But praise the Lord, there are times when we have choices regarding our freedom in Christ. We can be facing the very worst of circumstances and still walk in freedom. We do this as we hand over our circumstances to the Lord and rely on Him day in and day out for the strengthening we need in order to breathe free spiritual air. It's a choice. In their real prison cells, Paul, Silas, Peter, Joseph and others chose to make the best of their time as they sang, ministered and learned more of the things of God. We should do no less.

There will be some circumstances in our lives we just cannot change but we ourselves can change despite the impossibilities. May I suggest three keys that will open the lock of any prison we find ourselves in and all three are found in I Thessalonians 5:16-18. One by one, these keys are available to you and me among others presented in Scripture. These keys are:

• Rejoice always
  We have to pay attention to that word “always.” In the thick and thin of life's problems and even at times in a holding cell, we like Paul and Silas can rejoice and be people of praise. We don't have to understand the whys of our circumstances.
• Pray without ceasing
  “Without ceasing”...what does that mean? It means just what it says. You and I can be people of prayer all day long. We'll have our times of prayer that are lengthier but we can be in a spirit of prayer every waking moment. God loves to hear from us even through our tears when we just utter prayer sentences during the course of our day.
• In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
  There's another one of those words...”everything.” We can give thanks no matter what's going on, knowing it's God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Every ounce and crumb of our lives, God means for purpose.

Four words....”always, without ceasing and everything.” God has purpose in ALL that comes into our lives. Let's not allow circumstances to imprison us. We won't know until Heaven what these days down here have done to influence others for the cause of Christ. Let's drop the chains, rip through the ropes and slam prison doors behind us as we walk away in freedom and victory. We are living in these days not by accident but by Divine design. I pray, like Paul that our only desire will be to be a prisoner of the Lord and of Him only.

Thank You Father, for walking me through things of life for which I have no personal strength or energy. I know You won't bring anything into my life that's for nothing. You are working and I want to be a part of it and not hide behind prison bars when things get tough. I want to be Your prisoner only, held captive by Your love and Your will. I love You, Father. Amen